We did not leave by 8 this morning, but it was not too much later. I was half expecting a swarm of nuns as angry as they are short to invade the albergue when the appointed hour arrived and we had not yet returned the key. But only a tiny cleaning lady appeared.

We did not depart town until 09:30 after coffee and grocery shopping. Actually, I did neither of those but hung around enjoying a leisurely start and took some time to delete some duplicate digital photos. I am close to filling up my 256 MB flash card, but I have 384 MB more. I love full resolution pictures. (Note: The full res pics are available online. Click the thumbnail once, then click the 640x480 pic.)

I used a few more pictures on the way out of town on an old palace, church, and cathedral. I did not take any photos around Rocaforte at the confluence of 3 Roman roads. There just was not much to see besides a very energetic and shaggy little dog and the location of the fountain of St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis stopped by Rocaforte during his pilgrimage to Compostela in 1214. His fountain is supposed to have curative powers and his staff blossomed into a mulberry tree.

After the climb to Rocaforte the camino stayed high and crossed pasture and farm lands. The hiking was very warm and along the way I acquired a halo of flies. When we stopped for a break the flies annoyed me so much I had to leave early. Sadly, that was the last I saw of Frank and Kirsten today. They never arrived at Monreal's albergue.

So I hiked mostly solo today through high Navarra. There was two water guzzling ascents and two passes before a long descent into Izco. At Izco's non-functioning water fountain, I adjusted my ankle wrap and was surprised to see Jose Luis coming in from the road. If I understand him correctly he missed a waymark and had to roadwalk. He may have also said the Germans aren't doing well, but I can't be certain. Anyway, after some photos we hiked most of the way into Monreal together.

That is where I am now finishing this journal for the night. Buenas noches.