Roncesvallas – Zulbin – Pamplona

Roncesvallas to Zulbin was aprox 22k. Very tough terrain, steep inclines and steep declines. It took forever. When I arrived at the albergue I must have looked that pathetic that the owner took my hikers off for me!! Room with 10 people, my 3rd night on a top bunk, but I was so thankful to be finished for the day. I find it difficult to sleep in the albergue. Met 2 girls from Northern Ireland, I called them the Derry Girls – the show on Netflix.

My knees are taking a beating, the declines have been so steep and hard on the ol’ knees. Most say that these were the toughest 3 days of the Camino – one can dream!

Shared my evening meal with the people I’ve meet in the first night, we’ve really bonded as a group and have lots of laughs in the evening over dinner and wine.

Zulbin – Pamplona 19.2k. I normally get started walking between 715 and 745. It’s nice to start early fo be done by the time the afternoon heat is really strong. This was much better terrain today, still some climbing but nothing like the last 3 days. The last 10k were tough, I was very tired and started getting my first blister on the back of my heel.

The morning I started in St Jean I met a couple from Ottawa at breakfast, they were started the following morning but they did the full first day to Roncesvallas, so they caught up to me on the trail today, a wonderful couple. We chatted for a while while walking and then ran into them in Pamplona and shared a drink with them both.

I’ve decided to stay 2 nights in Pamplona, I need a rest day. I was torn about this as I will not see the group I’ve bonded with over the last 4 days. A few are staying but most moving on. Some may take a rest day in Estella so I could see them again. We all had dinner last night again, we are a tired group! Exchanged contact details and lots have said they will be east to visit me!

I’m going to explore a little bit of Pamplona today, not sure how this old body will hold up!