2 September 2023, Camino 3, Day 3
Estella to Los Arcos
The forecast for today is rain. No problem. We stepped out from the hotel and immediately felt wonderful. There was a very light drizzle and the temperature was about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. With our rain jackets and water resistant pants we were prepared to walk to Los Arcos.
We got about a quarter of a mile away from the hotel when I realized I had left my trekking poles in the lobby. I encouraged Glen to go on. He said he’d walk slowly so I could catch up easily. Well I retrieved my sticks and started back, but I stopped to take some pictures and there were less yellow arrows to indicate the way of the camino and it started to rain harder. Still I thought I can walk in this as long as my feet stay relatively dry. You clever fellow pilgrims, you already know I then stepped in a puddle up to my ankles. Now it’s really pouring and every step is squish-squish-squish-squish…. Still I thought this can’t last all day like this I can still walk to Los Arcos. I finally arrive at a little town called Irrachi. There’s a monastery here with a famous fountain with 2 spigots. One with wine and one with water, all for the Pilgrims.
I was all for stopping 4 years ago and partaking in a pilgrim tradition, but not today. Just past the monastery is an iron worker’s shop and work shop. 4 years ago I bought this necklace. I was keen to stop and buy some more for the grand children. So I ducked in thinking I’ll buy and keep going.
Well who should I find in his shop?…Glen, the young couple, another woman we met two days ago and several new people that we got to know. Our young Jewish friend even stopped by at one point.
We were there for 2 hours trying to get a taxi. Everybody along the camino where it was raining wanted a taxi. The rain was absolutely a deluge. On top of that the path changed from paved to dirt about 6 feet from the entrance and it was making a puddle that would require thigh high boots to traverse. We were cold, wet, uncomfortable, and stuck. And suddenly everything changed.
We began talking to one another in whatever language or gestures we could find in common. Even the Ferrier joined in. I got my 5 necklaces and he gave me a Tau made of iron (sorry I couldn’t find a picture to show you). The woman from the hotel said something to the Ferrier and they took off through the rain. They came back with a pot of hot coffee, a pot of hot milk, sugar, and a package of cookies that looked and tasted homemade. It was our own little feeding of the 8 if not the 5,000.
Finally the cab came and 7 of us piled in. Our driver took us to Los Arcos but we had to go 2 km farther because our hotel is just out of town. We were sad as each person got out at their stops. We were sad we didn’t make the walk to Los Arcos. We admired those who dared to brave the walk: the young couple and our Jewish friend. Perhaps this rain was God’s way of saying to us, “I know you want to walk, but I don’t want you to be weary when we walk together. Rest Pilgrim. I’m with you always.”
Buen Camino
One day I decided to go for a walk... 
What an adventure. I’m glad you arrived safely at Los Arcos. As you are saying “I know you want to walk, but I don’t want you to be weary when we walk together. Rest Pilgrim. I’m with you always.”