Day 7: Viana - Navarette

Day in one word: wind

It was literally incessant and almost felt as if it was trying to keep me in Navarra, but I successfully said goodbye to my first Spanish communidad (state or province) and entered La Rioja, winemaking region. The wind was actually quite lovely blowing through the vineyards, pushing the clouds to the east, and keeping things cool. When I walked through a nature park by a quiet lake, the wind did torture me a bit, wafting by with yummy barbecue smells.

Logrono was not my favorite city so far. It was large and industrial and very poorly marked with Camino signs. If the people hadn't been so friendly and pointed me in the right direction, who knows where I would've ended up. Which leads me to say: everyone is so kind to pilgrims. I got more well wishes of "Buen Camino" today and thumbs up. Two bikers stopped and offered to take my picture as I was attempting a selfie next to some ruins.

Today held many celebrations, from the downgrading of 3 Advil to 2, the new socks that were great, the realization that I am almost at 200 km, to the sudden Christmas music when my iPod was on shuffle. (The days are getting shorter; 6 months till Christmas, Papa!)

I did miss family today, thinking of anniversaries. Yesterday marked 1 year since Andi's surgery, and we praise God he's walking and snowboarding. Today is the 4th birthday of the niece who made me an aunt. And tomorrow, it will be 2 years since the family home burned in the Waldo Canyon fire. It'll be good to be with family again in just over a month.