We have been without wifi for 3 days, so we are a little behind in our posting. Here is an update on how everyone is doing, physically:
-Linda: After seeing the doctor in Los Altos, Linda is feeling a little better. She did purchase some new hiking sandals and they have given her feet much needed relief.

-Deb’s tendons on her knees are hurting so she went to a pharmacia in Logrono and got a knee brace to wear with the tendon bands. This seems to be helping, but going downhill is still painful.
Because of Deb’s knees and Linda’s feet and shin, we shipped our packs to our next location for the past two days. Having the weight off our backs has been WONDERFUL!

Each day The Camino bring beauty and small gifts. In some sections there will be fruit trees planted right along the path. The other day there were cherry trees with the sweetest cherries-yummy😊

On our way to Najera we stopped in Navarette at a 16th century church called The Church of the Assumption of Mary. It was beyond breathtaking. As you walked in you could smell the prayer candles burning, hear the creaking of your footsteps on the wooden floor and the soft whispering of worshippers praying. We knelt and said a small prayer for the safety of our travels and for the health of our families and friends back home.

On our way to Santo Domingo we saw a gentleman pushing a cart full of his belongings. His was also walking to Santiago, but because of injuring his back on the Camino, he found a cart and put his pack into it and is now pushing his way to Santiago. The perseverance and strength of the human spirit never ceases to amaze us.

Last night we stayed in a parish hostel at the Church of Saint John the Baptist. We slept on the ground on a mat in a room with 20 people. No showers, no laundry, but the volunteers who ran the hostel were sweet and very accommodating. We had a delicious communal dinner with people from all over the world. There was great discussion on world politics, everyone’s aches and pains and stories from the Camino. We ended the evening with Mass in the church and received a Pilgrim blessing from the priest. The priest asked all the pilgrims to approach the pulpit so he could pray over us and ask for a blessing on our travels. One of those moments where there were tears.

We started out Sunday morning feeling grateful for the people we’ve met, strengthened from the nourishing food, and blessed from the prayer the priest gave us.