Day 6 - Estella to Sansol

A quick baked product and coffee and we were off again. Today is a long day as we are doing the 22km of today's stage plus 6.8km of the next stage to get to Sansol. 

Not long out of Estella we reached the wine fountain, where there are 2 taps one for water and one for wine, what's not to love!

Just up from there the route had a fork and a decision to be made. We chose the more hilly route as it wound up initially at least through trees which made it lovely and cool. And of course the views were amazing!

We did do some of the hill in sunshine but overall it was manageable. At one point we looked over to Villamayor de Monjardin which was on the main route. And beyond that a mountain with a church on the very top! 

We stopped for an early lunch at the only town on our route, Luquin. We then had about 10km to go to Los Arcos. At 3km there was a food van where we grabbed an ice cream and drink but apart from that it was hot and dry and flat.

Most people walking the stage today were stopping at Los Arcos, so needing to do another 7km seemed quite a challenge. More than anything, we needed a drink stop in the shade, so we had a shandy each in the square.

The last 7km was a slog, it was hot, hot, hot. On the horizon were could see Sansol, from a long way out, but it didn't seem to get any closer for ages. And yes every town you need to reach is up, up, up!!!

Finally we were there!! 

We are staying in the Palacio, another hostal. We have a another room for four, 2 sets of bunk beds! The actual building is beautiful, I assume a Palace originally. 

We had a pilgrims meal at the hostal and then headed to the bar across the road for a wine and then bed.

Today we said goodbye to some pals. Crystal from the Netherlands who was doing 6 days on her own, but heads home tomorrow to husband and 2 kids. She will be back next year to do the next 6 days and so on until she has done it all. 

A couple from the US whose daughter is doing a 6 week programme in Pamplona, they head back to meet her and go on to Portugal and then home. A mother and daughter, again from the US who stopped in Los Arcos, we may meet them in Logrono, as that is where they finish. We have nicknamed them Tia Maria as we heard the mum call the daughter Tia. 

The route today...