At 7:35 the temperature was a cold 49F with a breeze making it feel even colder. We found our way out of town, in spite of a shortage of camino markers.
This makeshift marker (yellow arrow?painted on the back of a road sign pole) confirmed we were on the right track as we walked along a secondary road out of town.The next marker took us away from the paved road into the vineyards.This section of grapevines were growing in large stones, rather than clay, similar to what we have observed in Provence, France.We continued to weave among the vineyards toward Ventoza.A new road through the vineyards confused us initially but patience prevailed after a short deviation, before we returned to the familiar path.A familiar section of the path running parallel to the autovia.Leaving the camino path toward Ventosa , which is no longer directly on the Camino. In recent years, art work by locals has been added to the path.More art work? along the path into Ventosa.More artworkA tourist spot on the left, featuring products made from honey (miel). We stopped for breakfast at the Buen Camino Bar on the right. The village of Ventosa is up the hill and to the left.
After breakfast and a 30 minute break we called a taxi to take us to Nájera, about 5 miles away. We are staying in Azofra tonight, a total distance of 14.5miles from Navarrate. So, we’re skipping the walk from Ventosa to Nájera to get our total miles for the day to less than 10.
We exited the taxi in Nájera and walked through the shops and along the camino out of town.We walked by the 11th century Iglesia de Santa Maria la Real…… then began the steep climb up the red rock hillside into which the church and other building are built.Linda nearing the top of the red rock hillside.Looking back at Nájera from the hilltopLooking forward and heading into the vineyards toward Asofra .Making way for a tractor used to cultivate and maintain the vineyards.Approaching Azofra (pop. 250)Calle Mayor (main street) of AzofraOur room in Pencion La Plaza, Azofra.
Correos delivered our backpacks later than usual, at 1:15, but rather than begin our chores, we walked from our room to the only eatery in the village for our main meal.
A main meal of huevos con jamón.
Full of fried potatoes, eggs and Iberian ham, we returned to our room and spent the rest of the day machine washing and drying all our clothes, napping, reading, blogging and otherwise enjoying our very nice room, perhaps the best, in our experience, on the Camino Frances.
Jimandi 