Day 6 - 29.2km - Ayegui to Torres del Rio

Another early start at 6am, however this time in a municipal accomodation there is no breakfast. In fact there were no lights at all on the floor the showers were. Trying to shower and get changed using the flashlight on your phone is a new experience. Plus they were communal!

Setting out was another start leaving the outskirts of the city of Estella, before passing back into the fields and rolling hills.

Our first stop, at 7.30 was at Irache Monastery. Where they have the infamous wine fountain. A free fountain dispensing red wine. We had a toast and filled a water bottle and then continued on. It was going to be our longest day yet at over 29kms so we decided in advance to send our packs on. There are many pilgrim services such as this, where a company will collect your rucksack and deliver it to your next accomodation for around 5euro a day. The difference walking without a pack was noticeable and so we trotted through the miles.

The countryside is now hills, with great vineyards and olive groves, with a long track offering little shade meandering through them.

We made good pace, stopping for breakfast on a small town, before the main destination of the day at Los Arcos. The town has a large central square where we bumped into a number of pilgrims and had a tuna sandwich - finally something that wasn't ham, cheese or egg. Though we are still on the hunt for proper vegetables. I never fancied a brocolli so much!

Most pilgrims will stay in this town, however our destination is further on. So another 8km or so of trotting is required. We moved at a good pace without the weight on our back, stopping breifly in Sansol.

1 km to go. A short down, a trot back up and we arrived in Torres Del Rio! A small town with an unusual octagonal shaped church. The town is quaint, the accomodation similar. The days and locations are starting to form part of the routine, as is the evening meal. Tonight we had Liz again but sat with some South Koreans, who spoke no English. Dave and Lawrence are here too, and we joined them and a group of 13 ladies from Northampton for a sangria in the sun.

It was in all a good day.

Unfortunately the wear and tear of the Camino is affecting us as Nik is suffering with his ankle and calf, and I have an ongoing "pins and needles" feeling in my thigh. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully we will wake rested and ready to go. However it is now 3 minutes past lights out and 2 pilgrims are already snoring ... So it could be a fun one. Sweet dreams readers ... And tomorrow we walk.