Today we trekked 16.63 miles from Estella to the small village Los Arcos, which has a population of about 1,400 people. 

We left by 7:30 AM and walked back over the bridge out of town to the Camino. It immediately starts a steep climb out of town and then levels through the surrounding fields and forest area. After about one mile it starts a steep climb for about another six miles, and then the path widens and travels mostly through fairly gentle rolling hills and wheat fields. The scenery continues to awe me and I can’t help but constantly take pictures. 

The total elevation gain was still around 1,700′ during that six miles and I found it a little more difficult because I only had one trekking pole. Yesterday when we had stopped at a small restaurant I had leaned the trekking poles against the Wheelie on the narrow street corner in front of the restaurant. A car turned onto the street and drove over the tip of the pole snapping the tip off. Hopefully I can just replace the tip?

Los Arcos is typical of the small villages we have trekked through. It has a big church for such a small population of only 1,400 people. The streets are cobble and narrow, and there is a city plaza next to the church and is also where all the restaurants are located. 

As we walked into the plaza we noticed it had an area that was completely covered in rose petals and a small alter decorated with flowers. As we sat down the church bells began to ring for over ten minutes, and then the church doors opened and several young flower girls slowly walked over to the outside alter, followed by a procession of people, priests, and an alter carried by several men. Apparently today being Sunday, there was a special celebration. This was very special because it was nice to see the custom of the local village we are staying trekking.

I had arrived in town about fifteen minutes before Monica, and about a hour and a half before Jennifer, so I wasn’t sure whether to continue to the next village or find a three bed room in the local hostel. As it turned out she didn’t want to go further and I was fortunate enough just to get three beds in the smaller dorm as the hostel was almost full. It’s a room with six beds and it turns out the other three are nice people that we met before from the States and Switzerland.

Tonight we will walk the half block to the plaza for dinner, which will be fun as it will surely be crowed with many of the trekker pilgrims we have met. 

Best wishes,

Ted

View from our room in Estella 

Street singers outside our room in Estella 

Leaving Estella

Locals setting out flowers in Estella for Sunday celebration 

Jennifer, Monica & Ted at the Bodegas Irache Winery on the Camino that offers water and their free wine on a tap

The Camino

Entering Lis Arcos

Flower petals spread out in the plaza

Church

Church procession 

Church procession

Church procession

Church

Church

Church

Church ceiling