The Hill of Forgiveness

I'm not sure if it was the cider or the new insert in my left shoe but I had no ankle pain on today's 27k. We left Cizur Menor at day break as 8 bells rang out from Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel. We walked through some flat farmland with a rolling fog moving from left to right.  Soon it would be on our right. The fog in Spain moves mainly like a train.

Our morning target came into sight with a strand of giant windmills leading up the ridge to Alto del Perdón. These windmills provide all the power needs of the 200,000 residents of Pamplona. Sins can be forgiven for the pilgrim who climbs the Perdón. You'll have plenty of time to recount and codify your many sins as you trudge up to the lofty peak along the rocky path. There is a pilgrim monument at the peak and the locals say that you should shout loudly at the top to release your sins. I let one rip like Tarzan.

The descent is steep and a bit chunky but we had a dry path and took it easy. Clare's knee is still bothering her so Amy loaned Clare her hiking poles to see if this might help. The fog was now officially burned off and we hiked between farms with our path lined by wild asparagus and olive trees. I'm thinking about a salad for dinner with asparagus and olives. Where do I get these ideas?

We stopped at Puente La Reina for an afternoon picnic by the ancient bridge. Muniadona, the queen of Pamplona, had the bridge constructed to help pilgrims cross the river Arga in the 10th century. It's holding up pretty well and allowed our passage today some 1,000 years later.

We decided to push on to Mañeru. The tank was emptied along the 500' rise over the last mile leading to the hilltop village. We dragged into the wonderful oasis of Albergue El Cantero. Amy had heard about it following an Americans on the Camino FB group. I'm giving it my highest rating so far, 4.8 stars. Did I mention that they have a bar? We all have bottom bunks, have showered and washed our clothes and are onto blogging and wandering the town looking for a pharmacy. This is the first day that we have pulled ahead of the Bierly Route Plan but that plan is for 31 days. We are shooting for 27. It's not over yet baby! Now that I've been absolved it's time to hit the bar and rehydrate. Buen Camino!