Puente la Reina

I eat my breakfast right at sunrise. The sun rises swiftly over the mountains beyond Pamplona. The day begins with a small mountain. Breakfast halfway up. At the top a travelling salesman has established himself, I quickly acquire a cup of barley decent instant coffee. I miss the woods already, it seems to be predominantly farmland in my future. I'm entertaining myself by trying to guess what's growing in fields along the road. Close to the villages are the most amazing vegetable gardens full of pretty and exciting plants, many a varieties of tomatoes, peppers, chili, grapes and other stranger, harder to identify, like those which I believe is artichokes (now confirmed with an image search).
Wind turbines are prevalent in the landscape. Long rows along the ridges. We passed close to some at the crest of the coffee salesman and could hear their muffled buzz. Accompanies

Christof after the chilling coffee break on the crest. He suggested an alternative route to visit an interesting church. An old church situated in the middle of the fields. The building is octagonal surrounded by a beautiful patio. It was constructed in the days when pilgrims and the Camino were defended by the Knights Templar.

I have started to feel hints of blisters on my feet. I think it comes from wandering around the village in my sandals all afternoon searching for places to get postcards and cash. It is very hot in the sun in the afternoon. I arrive at the auberge around lunchtime, eats and rests, and when I head out a couple of hours later to explore the village the contrast is clear. The sun is scorching and there is no sensible reason to expose yourself to this, it's siesta and everything is closed.

I wish I were better at recognising the wild and the not so wild flora and fauna that I pass on along road. I saw a pomegranate tree which was beautiful, and one that to me looked like an olive tree with acorns. I think I've seen Egyptian vultures and other high contrast, Buzzard sized, black and white birds of prey. I walked past many fields of sunflowers. From one of them there was a very intense chirping. Makes me worry about someones harvest.

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