17.3 miles
Knee feeling pretty well. Headed to Logrono today, one of the three largest cities on the camino. Also a long day of walking. Our very helpful host in Los Arcos told us the first part is level, then up, down, up, down; then flat with a sharp descent. And he was right.
Two small towns not far from Los Arcos, Sansol and Torres del Rio were only a little under 5 miles. We stopped for a quick breakfast and then headed on to Viana.
Memorials and Serendipity
Along the camino, there always points where someone began a memorial of some kind and other continue to add to it.. On our way to Logrono there were several.
- Standing Stones: This was a 50-foot-long area with stone stacks and many included a photo or name.
- Memorial tree: Close by, a small pine tree was covered with token and photos placed in honor or memory of some loved one.
- Wooden Crosses: Our walk took us along a road overlooking the highway, along which some pilgrim had placed a stick cross into the chain link fence. Now there are hundreds of them.
Unexpected Refreshment
As we rounded a curve in the road,we noticed a few people sitting in chairs. As we got.closer, we discovered it was a full-blown rest stop, complete with refreshment stand! Our host offered us fresh- squeezed orange juice as well as other snacks. What an awesome surprise!! The juice was delicious…just what we needed.
Viana
Our journey today took us through miles of vineyards and olive groves, which I like to think of as “wine on the vine” and EVOO on the tree! Although the olives they serve with drinks and tapas are absolutely delicious. Not as briney as in the US, but mellow and good.
In Viana, it is wine festival time, and we stopped for bite along a bustling street. We enjoyed a potato tortilla and Aquarius drink- with added electrolytes.
On to Logrono. Another 9.4 kilometers. Coming in, we are routed on a long walk through the industrial district. But this gave way to a city park filled with cedar trees and a long reflecting pool. Our pension was located on the other side of the city, which was hopping with the wine harvest festival. Fireworks, partying. Sleeping!