Well, we have had our first significant deviation from plan... We arose Friday morning in Uterga, on yet another spectacular sunny day. We headed out among the almond blooms and the green fields towards, we thought, the town of Cirauqui, some 15 kilometres away.
Our track took us to Puente la Reina, a lovely town with a very famous medieval bridge. We spent some time soaking in the sights and getting some groceries for a picnic lunch. The church in this town is also well known, and we stopped a moment there.
From Puenta la Reina we headed for Cirauqui. The beauty of the new green fields, the rolling hills, the flowering trees, the pruned vineyards was always with us, though we are noticing (as the vineyards become more common) that things are drying up a bit. Cirauqui turns out to be a lovely town on top of a hill - streets with steps, and winding narrow alleys running up and around the steep hill. Very interesting town! But we decided that we still had energy for some more walking, and wanted to keep enjoying the fabulous day. So off we went for Lorca-- just five or seven kilometres more. Down the Roman road from Cirauqui, across the remains of an old Roman bridge and finally, to a smooth path through the fields towards Lorca.
And there we discovered that the refugio we were bound for was closed. No, sorry -- no accommodation here! But try the next town -- another 8 kilometres! Uh, oh. It was getting late and we were running low on food and water. A store was still open, so a quick snack and then we were off down the path again, heading into a spectacular sunset and the town of Villatuerta. We arrived just as it was becoming dark -- to discover that this refugio, also, was closed.
By this time it was dark, and we knew that the waymarkers are hard to find in the dark. We were tired, and had no confidence in our ability to find our way five more kilometres to Estella, a small city.
So... we decided to arrange a rescue. Our handy-dandy Rough Guide, fortunately, had a section for Estella, so we phoned a hotel, booked a room, and got a number for a taxi. Jose the cab driver found us, and hauled us the few kilometres to our hotel. Saved!
So now we are on another rest day -- the extra km added some blisters and we hve several long days ahead of us -- refugios are even fewer and farther between up ahead! Fortunately Estella is also a fascinating and beautiful city.
And we are thinking about folks back home, as McDougall United begins its work with Habitat for Humanity -- today has been the first big build day! Blessings and best wishes to you all.
Photos are backwards: apologies! Start at bottom and work your way up! Sunset at end of day...
Our track took us to Puente la Reina, a lovely town with a very famous medieval bridge. We spent some time soaking in the sights and getting some groceries for a picnic lunch. The church in this town is also well known, and we stopped a moment there.
From Puenta la Reina we headed for Cirauqui. The beauty of the new green fields, the rolling hills, the flowering trees, the pruned vineyards was always with us, though we are noticing (as the vineyards become more common) that things are drying up a bit. Cirauqui turns out to be a lovely town on top of a hill - streets with steps, and winding narrow alleys running up and around the steep hill. Very interesting town! But we decided that we still had energy for some more walking, and wanted to keep enjoying the fabulous day. So off we went for Lorca-- just five or seven kilometres more. Down the Roman road from Cirauqui, across the remains of an old Roman bridge and finally, to a smooth path through the fields towards Lorca.
And there we discovered that the refugio we were bound for was closed. No, sorry -- no accommodation here! But try the next town -- another 8 kilometres! Uh, oh. It was getting late and we were running low on food and water. A store was still open, so a quick snack and then we were off down the path again, heading into a spectacular sunset and the town of Villatuerta. We arrived just as it was becoming dark -- to discover that this refugio, also, was closed.
By this time it was dark, and we knew that the waymarkers are hard to find in the dark. We were tired, and had no confidence in our ability to find our way five more kilometres to Estella, a small city.
So... we decided to arrange a rescue. Our handy-dandy Rough Guide, fortunately, had a section for Estella, so we phoned a hotel, booked a room, and got a number for a taxi. Jose the cab driver found us, and hauled us the few kilometres to our hotel. Saved!
So now we are on another rest day -- the extra km added some blisters and we hve several long days ahead of us -- refugios are even fewer and farther between up ahead! Fortunately Estella is also a fascinating and beautiful city.
And we are thinking about folks back home, as McDougall United begins its work with Habitat for Humanity -- today has been the first big build day! Blessings and best wishes to you all.
Photos are backwards: apologies! Start at bottom and work your way up! Sunset at end of day...
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