We awoke early as has become our norm, Jenni and I quietly change and pack our gear in the dark saving the noisiest bits such as stuffing the sleeping bag in the stuff sac for the hallway outside the main sleeping bay.
Once most the packing is done we sit on the floor or a chair if it is available and bandage the few blisters we have. Jenni has thankfully only formed one blister on her little toe. I however have been fighting them off on both feet. I fear that day that I lose the battle and they bubble up into actual blisters but for now have been preemptively taping them.
Not all alberques have breakfast but thankfully this one does. We went upstairs to the kitchen/dinning area and on the table is a place setting that consists of a cup placed on a saucer and on the side is a knife and spoon. Coffee is available on the counter and in the middle of the table is french bread cut into 2 inch pieces as well as a plethora of spreads for the bread.
When we sat down and started to drink our coffee an old lady came into the room asking for cereal. Both Jenni and I immediately identify her as American for only an American would ask this. We just smirk at each other and introduce ourselves to the lady to break the awkwardness of her question and draw attention from all the Europeans that were contemplating her cereal inquiry.
We finish breakfast around 6:15, brush our teeth, don our packs and head out to the street. It is still early so there is a chill in the air. The seem empty feeling we had in Pamplona is present as we walk out of town between the tall buildings and empty streets that were bustling with activity a few short hours earlier. The trash from the festivities last night still cluttering the gutters. In the streets an occasional cat can be seen wondering looking for scraps.
The walk to Najera borders a lake and as we reach the edge if it some kids can be seen fishing. Today was special because we also see a goose with her goslings. Walking with the goose is a couple ducks.
The scenery on the trail is very picturesque. There are vineyards as far as the eye can see. There is also many other fruit trees but Jenni keeps stopping me from eating them. The few times I get to try an odd berry I end up spitting it out and get Jenni inquisitively asking me what I did.
Today was the longest hike we have done to date, 18.7 miles, and we arrived to Najera feeling excited and very exhausted. We couldn't wait to get off our feet and lay down for a quick siesta.
Our plans abruptly changed when we arrived to town and there was a celebration going on. The band was playing some sort of spanish music with a lot of horn instruments. There were dozens of rows of people locked arm and arm dancing down the street. There hundreds of people dancing and as they crossed us a couple locals grabbed us by the arm and locked step with us. We would dance 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. The atmosphere was festive and even though it was hot there were kids squirting water in the air and adults throwing wine. All the teenagers looked as though they were in a giant mosh pit and their shirts were torn and they had writing all over their bodies in marker.
We had a blast and everyone was so friendly to us. We wanted to stay with the festivities but after a while we worked our way through the crowd to the Alberque.
After cleaning up we went back to the celebration but it had gone into siesta. So we sat with our pelegrino friends and enjoyed the best sangria in the world. For 9 euro we got a pitcher of it that served 4.
We sat with the California crew: Buzz and his daughter Erin, Erin's boyfriend Jordan and Jordan's brother Dylan. Later we also had multiple other Camino family members join us as we toasted the end of a great day on "The Way".
Jenni and spent much of the day reminiscing about Clif and wishing we were with our family today as everyone paid there respects. He has made such an impact on us as we walk on. Love you Clif.
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