Another banger of a day with more blue skies, green fields, and charming Spanish towns. Left Pamplona early so as to be over the day’s wee hill before the sun was too high in the sky.

After a little while passing thru to the other side of Pamplona, fields led slowly upwards to the hillside pueblo of Zariquiegui. Bonus points to this awesome spot for having the only working public fuente / fountain I’ve seen this far.

Climbing further on above the town towards a line of wind turbines looming along the ridge, and the trail’s destination – Alto del Perdón / Hill of Pardon. Fantastic sculpture atop, representing the history of pilgrims passing this way over the years. The translated inscription is “where the path of the wind crosses the path of the stars”. Incredible views in both directions, too, from this 750m-high vantage.

A very steep descent back towards more fields. More towns, more trails, and definitely a lot more heat as the day progressed. Eventually, the town of Puenta la Reina (the Queen’s bridge) and another home for another night. Small but beautiful place, this.

Stats for this leg:

• 27.1km
• 503m ascent
• 609m descent
• 3 medieval stone bridges crossed