Buen Caffeino!!

Day 9   Logrono to Najera

Miles today:  18.4

Total miles:  126.1

Elevation gain:  1169’

Descent:  841’

“Never underestimate the importance of being properly caffeinated.”

“Decaffeinated coffee is like a hairless cat, it exists, but that doesn’t make it right.”

As you walk along the Camino each day,  you say “Buen Camino” to everyone you see. “Buen Camino” literally means good road in Spanish, but it can also mean ‘good path’ our ‘good way’,  path or way being both physical and spiritual. It is the greeting shared by pilgrims, hikers, and bicyclers on the Camino and also with local people who wish you well.

You hear and say this dozens of times every day.

But another appropriate greeting should perhaps be “Buen Caffeino” as coffee seems to be the universal drink of the Camino. We have a couple of cups at breakfast and then stop at least twice more during the day for yet another cup at each locale. The drink of choice is Cafe con Leche (or espresso with scalded milk). We look forward to each small village in hopes of finding a cafe with an espresso machine and a good cup of coffee! It helps break up the long days of hiking.

Today was a surprise! The forecast was partly cloudy with no rain. Instead, we got sprinkles soon after departing Logrono, followed by increasingly cooler temperatures and wind. It rained just enough most of the day to require rain jackets but we attempted to hold off on the rain pants until I finally gave in and put mine on. Blaze and Chum decided to tough it out and forged ahead in hiking pants. Overall it was a less than comfortable day with almost 19 miles of walking. We did create our own alternative route into Navarrete to avoid a somewhat dangerous hike along the shoulder of a very busy road.