BROWNCOUNTYBOB
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
Quite a day yesterday. Weather forecast was mixed so we packed our daypacks with our ponchos. Nice walk out of Pamplona then we hiked up to the iconic peak of “alto de perdon”. We got some great pics by the famous iron sculptures.
The last three caminos we hiked down a treacherous rock path to Uterga which created foot issues for both of us. My research found an alternate route to save our feet.
Great idea, terrible directions. For example it said at the peak, take the asphalt road road right. So do you assume you are facing the path down to Uterga with Alto de Perdon at your back ot facing the iron figures? We followed the directions as best we could then followed a road route for several miles and 90 minutes which did not tie to the directions I had. In fact it became clear we had gone around the mountain towards our starting point and we could see Alto de Perdon from below. We feared that we’d need to climb Alto de Perdon a second time then hike down the treacherous rocky path to Uterga.
This is our fourth camino and was a lesson in humility. Next time we stick to the route we know. That said, when you need help, simply ask and a camino angel will be ready to help you.We finally wandered into a town and had no idea where we were. We found a bar and I told the bar tender (in Spanish) “We are pilgrims and need your help. We are lost!”. I told him we needed a taxi to transport us close to our destination town. After a few minutes he said your taxi will be here in 10 minutes! What a relief! I thanked him immensely and ordered two beers then gave him a nice tip. Our taxi driver was equally kind. I told him he was our “camino angel”. He dropped us off a short distance from our destination town.
So we arrived in Puenta la Reina more or less on time. After checking in we went to the famous bridge and celebrated our chaotic but lucky day with cups of wine.