AKERRETA TO PAMPLONA
“Carolyn’s got an alien inside that blister”.
The Hotel Akerreta, where we stayed last night, provided the setting for a couple of scenes in “The Way”, the film starring Martin Sheen. Quirky, cosy and fascinating, (the hotel, that is), the owner was a lovely man who couldn’t have been more accommodating. Carolyn’s blister has now grown to the size of an orange. Without wishing to appear unsympathetic, I did feel it necessary to point out that there was an obvious analogy between her predicament and that of many a faithful horse in cowboy movies which, in the course of outrunning the baddies, is ridden to the point of exhaustion by Clint/Audie/Duke. Hopelessly lame and incapable of offering further assistance, the sympathetic fugitive elects to do the decent thing and puts the poor creature out its misery. She wasn’t impressed. Today was a very relaxed walk to Pamplona, with no hills of consequence, loads of great scenery and a complete absence of rain. En route, we passed through the village of Gogoratu, which has now taken over from Zubiri as the best Camino name encountered so far. The Basque region is so similar to Scotland, with lush greenery, rolling hills and acres of dense woodland. It’s so beautiful I could almost write a song in celebration of its wonder. Almost. As I write this Carolyn and her water melon are relaxing in a bath. In another 15 minutes it’ll be blocking the door. Day off tomorrow! Today’s song is “Shoot the Runner” by Kasabian (Carolyn’s choice. My preference was for “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” by Racing Cars.)
