Day 13 - Getting our Groove On

Sept 23

Destination - San Juan de Ortega

Distance - 24km

Hours of walking - five and half including a quick lunch

Terrain - we saw a sudden change from agriculture to forest

Weather - cool morning and then warmer as the day went on - layers!

Nature - pine and oak trees 

Misadventure - Sleeping - rack 'em, stack 'em and pack 'em

We woke up to a cloudy day but rested as rested pilgrims. Wendy once again has ankles as her swelling has gone down tremendously. She opted to share a cab to San Juan with the 'German mom' so the rest of us set out at 8:00am. 

Each step gets us closer

The morning looked like it could rain at anytime, but we didn't need our rain jackets at all today. The layers got peeled off as the kilometres passed. 

Cloudy skies, easy path

Rolling hills

The landscape today was like the saying in Saskatchewan "if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes". 

A beautiful stream that went under the highway - the path less taken - you would never see from a car

Into the forest 

We were dreading today, as we thought that there were going to be aggressive ascents and declines. We were so wrong. This was the best hiking day yet. We all had our groove on. Dee was back in her warrior pace and I was not blowing my nose as much. I met a lovely man John from Vancouver and we had a great walk together up the mountain - funny how you can match up rhythms and strides so easily. He remarked at the rest stop how fast I walked. I told him I was just keeping up to him, and he replied he was just trying to keep up to me!

A monument to fallen rebellion soldiers that fought against the Francos and buried in a mass grave

San Juan is not very large and home to only 20 people. There is a beautiful church and the Alburgue in an old monestary. It is basic living and the girls say it reminds them of the camping trips of their youth. I am getting very adept at climbing in and out of bunk beds. 

Hanging laundry

Monestary courtyard

Cafeteria style supper

Canadian friends with an Estevan connection

The church was spectacular 

For you, Maureen Daoust - pink of course

Today was a wonderful hiking day. Lesson learned. Don't dread what you don't know. Take each moment as it comes. You may be surprised by soft pine needles to walk on. 

Cheer of the day from Wendy - it was such a great feeling to wake up with the swelling of my feet coming down. The cab ride was great, topped off by being dropped off at an outdoor cafe to find lots of my friends to visit and drink wine with.