Unbelievably beautiful day again today! The hits just keep on coming.

Across the actual Puente la Reina, and almost immediately back into countryside. Paths thru fields and then a steepish climb up into a pine forest. More rolling hills and fields – an autopista / motorway starting to roll alongside – then the wee town of Mañeru, which thoughtfully provides a fountain and small shelter for pilgrims.

Back into fields, though this time an impressive sight looms and draws near – the historic hilltop town of Cirauqui / Zirauki. Climbing up its tangle of narrow streets, eventually reaching a fairly unique corridor that forms part of the Camino? An undercroft to a public building, perhaps. Even better, the exit from town was via Roman road and bridge. Followed soon after by a slightly newer motorway footbridge. Loved the contrast.

More ancient bridges followed, yada yada, olive groves, more modern motorways putting Roman engineering to shame, and – delightfully – a rare canal overbridge; as in, the canal flies above the landscape. Don’t think I’d ever seen that before in my travels, what a thrill.

Fields followed, and a fair amount of criss-crossing under the motorway – a cool detail, many of these underpasses were arched, rather than box-shaped, and lined with stone to give an agéd appearance… cute and clever design.

Lunch at an excellent cafe in Lorca – bocadillo / sandwich with tortilla española / Spanish omelette filling. Fortified with food and coffee, wandering across countryside again to Villatuerta, and fascinated by an abandoned and locked church (?) nestled in an olive grove on the outskirts.

And then, into Estella and the municipal albergue for the evening. Another excellent town (small city?), filled with narrow old streets and lovely old buildings. Dinner tonight was a menu del supermercado of salad and tuna.

Stats for Tuesday:

• 21.4km
• 499m ascent
• 425m descent
• 5 days in a row of perfect blue skies