Out the door at 0540 into relatively cool weather because it was a long and hot stretch. We walked together for a while and then we started to separate for pretty much the rest of the day. Great fields of grain, olive trees and vineyards.
Through Torres del Rio and with Viana on the horizon, I cruised into town looking to eat, rest and hydrate. My stop was directly across from the Iglesia de Sta. Maria, over 800 years old and overseen today by 2 matrons who kindly stamped our passport several times with different stamps, I’ll run out of space at this pace. They were very nice though.
L&R showed up as I was packing up and we talked for a few minutes, wanted them to relax, eat and hydrate.
When you have to climb into a town, you have to descend out. In this case, it was both up and down again as you immediately go into Torres del Rio. After that, Viana and finally Logrono. A long, hot grind.
I was cruising along at a good pace, nothing hurt and for a while, it was a gentle downhill slope. I’ve learned that there is always another hill and, true to form the Camino provided 40 minutes of a nice uphill climb.
From then on, it was mostly even with a little shade into La Rioja, serious wine country. We also entered the outskirts of Logrono and an industrial area. Like a rented horse, I could smell the stable and with one last climb, the city was in site…always look for the church…on the hill. Most notable is the Cathedral of San Bartolommeo. Walking into or out of large cities is the worst.
Logrono is a large city but during the siesta it almost seemed deserted. I did find our Albergue, the Check In Rioja. 10€, clean, friendly, nice bath/toilet no A/C. I may have forgotten to mention that it’s in the high 80’s to low 90’s. Not going to be a good sleeping night.
Plan to to roll out early again and with temps forecasted in the mid-90’s, were going to do what we can do. For now, off to try to sleep.