Day 15

Nájera to Cirueña - 18 kms
25 April 2019

Anzac Day. Today we thought of those who served overseas, and of the Dawn Service at home that we would normally have been at.

After seeing poppies along the roadside as we walked we only managed to find one today for Anzac Day. Jeff wore it to honour those who had served.

We set off in good spirits this morning and enjoyed  our walk out of Nájera and on to the village of Azofra, walking past grape vines all the way. We had a good break for breakfast/morning tea at Azofra enjoying the company of other pilgrims once again. Just out of Azofra I was reminded once again of God's sense of humour. Yesterday I commented how lucky we were that the red clay path was dry, that I couldn't imagine what it would be like to walk on it when it was wet and sticky. Well today, after overnight rain, we had just that. Thick sticky oozy mud. We battled our way up a hill then slipped our way down the other side gaining at least five cms in height and a kilogram or two in weight on our boots. I didn't take any photos as I was too busy trying to stay upright. It made me think of the lyrics "Slip slidin' away..." and "Mud, mud, glorious mud..."

Once out of the mud we were then fighting a strong headwind all the way uphill, at least 5 kilometres, to Cirueña which is where we're staying the night. The last few kilometers before Cirueña cropping took over from vineyards. In spite of the mud and strong wind it was a lovely sunny day if somewhat cool as the surrounding hills had quite a dusting of snow on them. The whole area we walked through today was beautiful. Cirueña is a strange place. There are many new apartment blocks as you enter the town which have never sold with a golf course nearby, the old town where we are staying is beyond that. We had dinner at a nearby albergue where we enjoyed talking to Phil from the UK who is staying at the same hostel as us

Walking out of Nájera

 Street art

The portal through which pilgrims leave Nájera.

A street on the Camino path leading us out of town

A tiny Pappy house today. Pappy will be very cosy here in this small house but he'll have room for a garden out the front and there's even an outdoor bath. He will be able to look at the stars as he soaks in his bath each night.

Church of Santa Maria Real in Nájera

On the outskirts of Nájera

All we have to do is follow our shadows.

On our way to Azofra

 The hills had quite a heavy dusting of snow.

Today the irrigation channels changed from being deep in the ground ones to above ground concrete ducting.

In Azofra

At an Azofra cafe - our breaks along the way are very welcome.

Some foot care going on.

 Snow dusted hills between Azofra and  Cirueña - after the mud episode

It doesn't look like it in this photo but the path was uphill for several kilometres.

We had a snack break on the way up.

A welcome sign at the top of the hill. We bought a banana each.

Cirueña in the distance - the unsold apartments looked out of place.

In the old part of Cirueña

The view out of our window. The temperature has really dropped  - I'm hoping they're not snow clouds.

A last photo for the day - a walk 'home' from dinner at a neighbouring albergue.