Sept. 7, 2010 - Navarrete to Azofra

Left Navarrete at 6:10. It started raining shortly after ( I love my huge pancho that looks like a tent). Took a wrong turn and walked at least 20 min. before realizing it. Stopped for about 1/2 hour in Ventosa (7 km). By the time I left there it had stopped raining. The 10 km to Najera was a pleasant walk through vineyards. The rain made all the colours of the earth, plants and trees so vibrant. Ate some grapes from the vine, they were really good! Also couldn´t help but pick a couple figs off a fig tree that was in my path.

Walked the last 2 km into Najera with Maria from Mexico. Talked about why we are doing this and neither of us know why exactly. Just before we got into Najera there was a writing on the wall. That fit exactly what we were just talking about.
        Dust, mud, sun and rain
        Is the Camino de Santiago
        Thousands of pilgrims
        And more than a thousand years

       Pilgrim, who calls you?
       What hidden force attracts you?
       Not the field of the stars
       Nor the grand cathedrals

       It is not the courage of Navarra
       Not the wine of the Riohas
       Nor the seafood of Galicia
       Nor the plains of Castile

       Pilgrim, who calls you?
       What hidden force attracts you?
       It is not the people of the Camino
       Nor the rural customs.

       It is not the history and culture
       It is not the cock of La Calzada
       Nor the palace of Gaudi
       Nor the Ponferrada Castle

       I see them all as I pass
       And it is a delight to see everything
       But the voice that calls to me
       I feel much more deeply

       The force which pushes me
       The force which attracts me
       I cannot explain it
       Only He who is above knows it

It never ceases to amaze me how, since I have started this camino, the people who cross my path seem to be there just at the right time. They maybe there for a day or 2 or just a km or 2, but it all seems to be pieces of a puzzle, which I have no idea what it will look like when I am finished.

The albergue in Azofra is very nice. There are rooms with only 2 beds in each room (no bunk beds). There is a large patio with tables and a pool to soak your feet.

Had dinner with Stephan1 and Stephan2. I really do enjoy their company. Also still keep running into Liz & Jacques.
9:00 bed time.