Day 6
Estella –> Sansol (about 16 miles/26 km)
At least it wasn’t raining when I left the albergue this morning. The weather was actually quite agreeable. Yet, today was a rough day. I hiked longer than the recommended stop of Los Arcos. At the end of my walk, I felt exhausted. I could barely speak English let alone Spanish.
The day started off quite well. Like I said, the weather felt nice. Not long after leaving Estella, I came upon the famous wine fountain in Iratxe. The bodega (vineyard) has 100 liters every day that they supply to the pilgrims passing by. There’s also water, too, in case you’re in need.
The path continued through a small town before returning the the mud and gravel. I’m not sure how I feel about this terrain. I’m convinced it’s causing my ankle and feet to hurt worse, yet there’s nothing I can do about it.
Not long after, I ran into some Germans and a Canadian I had met previously. I walked with them for a few minutes, but ultimately, my pace was faster than theirs and I departed.
At the next town, I stopped at a shop and got a Powerade to go along with my bocadillo I made last night. This was also a good time to relax my ankle. Part of me hates stopping because it’s so hard to start again, while another part of me just needs to sit down.
There wasn’t much else after this town until I got to Los Arcos. I continued through fields, with hay and straw for miles. There wasn’t any shade either. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot, but still, it wasn’t easy. The path went slightly up and then back down again, just to keep us on our toes.
Throughout this long trek, I kept having thoughts about whether I should keep going. It was like ping pong in my head. You can’t quit. Don’t be a quitter. But what if my ankle gets worse? Your plane doesn’t leave for another month.
I kept going, despite feeling drained. Eventually, I walked into Los Arcos. According to one of the most popular guidebooks, this is the place to stay for the night. I watched a couple’s YouTube video, and they didn’t get good vibes from the town. Plus, I wanted a shorter walk into Logroño tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the next stop wasn’t for another 5.6 kilometers, or about 3.5 miles. It was a little lonelier after Los Arcos since most people stop, but there were a few people in front of and behind me.
I walked and walked and walked some more. Thankfully, I had some podcasts to listen to and keep my thoughts at bay. Just before 3 PM, I arrived in Sansol. Sansol is an incredibly small town. On top of that, it’s Sunday, so absolutely nothing is open. I just hope the dinner is acceptable tonight. There are only two other people in my albergue right now, so I’m also hoping they even make food.
Even though today was hard, I’m hoping tomorrow will be better. Like I said, I’ll be heading to Logroño, an actual city. I know this is bad, but I’m craving McDonald’s, even though Logroño is known for its pintxos and wine. We’ll see how I’m feeling tomorrow.
Ultreya, for now.