Thoughts from my Camino Frances Journey- Day 7

Date: April 16, 2025 Wednesday

Where did I begin today?

Puente La Reina (Jakue)

Where will I stay this evening?

Estella (Capuchinos Rocamador)

How far have I come?

21.99km (13.66 miles)

Sue in Puente La Reina

Iglesia de Santiago

I left Jakue with Sue & Bill around 7:40am, stopped briefly at the church, and saw the iconic Romanesque bridge (Puente La Reina means “Queen’s Bridge”). Ran into Robb from Ireland too shortly after leaving town. Physically, I felt good all morning except going uphill where I tended to take it slow while still keeping up with the others.

crossing the bridge

6 arches span the Arga

Shadows (L to R) Bill, me, Sue, Robb

We stopped for breakfast in the second town we passed and I got a chocolate croissant. Both towns were medieval hilltop villages which required climbing up steep, cobbled streets through town and down the other side where we passed a highway. Felt good until just before we reached the halfway point at Lorca then got a hot spot on pinky toe. We crossed another old stone bridge where pilgrims were eating lunch in the sunshine. I stopped to take off my shoes and socks and added some hiker’s wool to my pinky before continuing on.

Cirauqui in the distance

steep inclines in town

A popular spot for peregrinos to get breakfast

steep descents outside town

Last night, I had planned to stop for lunch in Lorca since it was half way, and now with my worry about developing another blister, this seemed like a smart decision. Sue & Bill wanted to continue on so we parted ways here. I had a Greek salad in a bar and removed my shoes again for better airflow. I felt reenergized after eating and resumed walking. Now that I was alone, I entered a state of flow while going at my own pace. Walking with friends can be nice, but I find that I much prefer walking alone and socializing with others in the evenings at a restaurant or Albergue.

Bridge where I applied more hiker’s wool

Bill walking through a tunnel

Lorca

Around the last town (Villatuerta) I started feeling tired again and my feet were in a bit of pain. I also got a text from Annabelle who had reached the Albergue in Estelle asking if I wanted to split laundry with her but I told her I still had further to walk so she might want her things to dry sooner than I would arrive. The last 3kms after that were really hard physically and mentally although there was a very pretty section that went along a river near the end. However, I was following two pilgrims in the distance and didn’t realize they had continued down a local walking trail and not the official Camino so I had to climb up a steep bank to get back on track.

Villatuerta

Almost to Estella

That was just before the entrance to Estella and I met two Dutch guys who happened to be going to the same Albergue as me. The Albergue was near the opposite end of town though so we walked through Estella together down the main road. Capuchinos Rocamador is an old convent attached to a chapel. The four person rooms were basic with very squeaky bunk beds, but it had a lovely outdoor space.

Estella

Albergue Capuchinos Rocamador

I showered then met up with Annabelle who was outside waiting for her laundry to dry. I found a small library room and sat down to preview tomorrow’s route and also book my accommodation through Easter, trying to lock down everything through Burgos (which I need to reach on April 23). I still wasn’t able to book anything in Logroño on Good Friday, so I booked an Albergue in the town before Viana. Then on Saturday, I’ll stay in Navarerete instead of Nájera, which means I’ll probably have to take another taxi on Easter to Santo Domingo since I already booked there but it will be too far to walk in one day. I’m frustrated that I’m forced to take more taxis in order to stick to my schedule because of time constraints. Especially now that I’m getting used to all the walking.

kitty in the garden

A door in the Albergue leads to a balcony inside the church

Since tomorrow begins with another steep uphill ascent, I decided to try one of the luggage transportation services. I got a paper envelope for the JacoTrans backpack service in the lobby. I put 6 euros inside and wrote down my information (phone number, name of Albergue and the town I’m staying in tomorrow), then I texted the WhatsApp number provided to let them know where to pick up my backpack tomorrow morning.

luggage transportation envelope

Went to dinner with Annabelle at a restaurant in town called Casa Carmen that had burgers made with locally sourced beef. I also learned how she met her German husband at a bar in Vietnam, very cute story. We passed by Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rúa on our way back and climbed the steep stairs to see inside the church. Came back to the hostel by 9pm to get ready for bed. I’m in the same room as Annabelle and Cathy but the fourth bed is empty. We’re all hoping we don’t move in our sleep too much since the bunks are so squeaky.

Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rúa

After dinner