We left Estella at 6:30 this morning. Estella was much bigger than I expected but soon we were in the countryside. To Los Arcos was only21.5 km (13.4 miles). I’m going to say that it will last in my memory forever.
First, we watch a shepherd tend his sheep with a couple of dogs. He used hand and arm signals to direct the dogs As soon as he raised his arm the dog did whatever that signal meant.
The worst part was walking past so much burned area. The hillside was burned for miles and it had come down into some wheat fields. Some of the fields were sacrificed by plowing the wheat under to prevent the fire from consuming more. There were only a few fields burned but I feel for that farmer who lost his crop.
We came across a winery with a fuente de vino( wine fountain). They provide 100 liters per day to pilgrims
We partook of the free wine. I emptied my water bottle and poured
As the groups hike there becomes groups of people who hike together. Our group today is one from Cincinnati, one California and one London. we came upon two girls we know sitting in a grassy area resting. We joined the to chat. One German and one from Lithuania. I sat next to Christina from Lithuania. She asked why I’m hiking. Sometimes I mention Rodney dying and sometimes not. Today I decided to tell Christina that Rod died three days before I left. We chatted a few minutes about this then I asked her why she is here. She told me that while she lives near london that she went home to her mother, who was dying from cancer. We talked through her emotions and continuing thoughts as well as I told her my story of when my mom died. I am hopeful that we connected and something I said may resonate in future. In this life we never know why or whether we help people but we helped each other.
I also passed fields of lavender and thought how Dee would have enjoyed it.
At the end of today we’ve hiked 135 km or 84 miles Tomorrow we hike 27.8 km. At the end of tomorrow we’ll be 100 miles.
what countries have we met people from? Lithuania, Israel , Ireland, France, Korea, Germany, England , Spain, Ukraine.
Upon arrival we drank two pitchers of Sangria.
Sangria