Day 8 - Logroño to Nájera (and beyond)

This morning I walked past a road-sign to Santander, that is my final destination in Spain after my Camino. Funny to think that I am now walking away from my destination. Yesterday I sent home a package of things that I did not need to bring with me; it only weighed about 800g but it all counts!

Leaving Logroño as the sun came up was pleasant, they have a beautiful lake and parkland to the west of the town. I had to walk alongside a motorway for about 3 miles with a chain link fence on the side of the Camino. Everyone makes a cross with two twigs and links it into the fence; there were about 50 in every section of fence for over two miles! Many tens of thousands.
The temperature is going up up up. About 33 today and 36 tomorrow. The plan was to walk 30 km today, when I got to Najerra it was another big town so I carried on to Azorfa; a village that would probably not exist if not for the Camino. There is a bar, a restaurant, a church and our albergue (with a pool about 3 metres square) what more do you need?
I think today's walk was about 38 kms (almost 25 miles) which was tough in the heat. The feet are cooling nicely now. Paul from Holland is keeping up with me. We saw Norwegian Gina yesterday but I think she is behind us now. (I wish you well Gina, walk your Camino at your speed) No sound of Stefan at the moment but the day before yesterday he seemed more relaxed and gave me a big hug when he saw me! I think he is relaxing at last.
Grape vines for miles in every direction today, real Rioja country. There are some lovely ranch style mansions that are probably where the successful wine growers live. The only security they have is big dogs that roam free; there are warning signs everywhere.

Some nice photos from today....
Sticks on a fence, a suicide platform over a railway line, a big bull, some more dead boots, some vines and views. Also some stones, some secret messages and some cooling feet.
And a beer with some football.

 
Update: Paul and I have just ordered our Pilgrim Meal and realised that you get one bottle of wine per table. There are five on the table next to us and they will lose out. Tomorrow we will try to sit on separate tables.

Hope you are all well, Ian.