Day 4 Scaling the Height of Forgiveness

In Pamplona I stayed at a German run albergue named Casa Paderborn with my friends Manfred,  Jack Xu, Cristina, and was reunited with my Spanish roommates from Roncesvalles, Anton and Manuel.  I ate dinner with Manfred and Jack and a random Japanese pilgrim who had been tagging along as we looked for a restaurant. The Japanese gentleman spoke no English but we communicated with ooos and ahhs about the food. Every meal seems to have french fries as a side dish whether you want it or not. Sort of like grits .... or Grace (tip of the hat to Rusty McCown).But let me tell you, the food here in Spain is unbelievably good. And the Ham! It's sort of like an intensely flavored prosciutto. So I have eaten a boat load of bocadillos de jamon y queso (ham and cheese sandwiches).
We were awakenedby the efficient Germans at 6:00 and fed  a breakfast  of good strong coffee with toast and jelly and told to be gone by 8.
Not wanting to incur Teutonic wrath I followed orders and was walking through Pamplona by 8 . I said goodbye to Manfred and Jack since they walked at a much faster pace than I and also to Cristina who had to go to the post office.
As I walked through  Pamplona my thoughts turned to my best friend Clif. I thought of how our lives had had such similar trajectories and of the many wonderful times we spent together.I was feeling sad and guilty for being in Spain on the Camino while he is so sick at home.  As I was having these thoughts I saw this and my jaw dropped.

For you non-cursillistas out there "Ultreia" is a word of encouragement pilgrims say to each other and it means "Onward". I first heard about the Camino when Avis and I were on staff for Cursillo 137 when Kenneth Boone gave the "Ultreia" talk. So I got a word of encouragement when I needed it and continued on to the "Alto de Perdon" or the Height or Mountain of Forgiveness. Thank you, Lord, for the encouragement and the forgiveness.

Here we go:

The above is looking back towards Pamplona. The one below is the path uphill.

It was rough but I finally made it to the top.

And here I am with Ariel on the left and Serena on the right. Two of the three Bigatti sisters from Italy. I tried to interest them in my bachelor son but Ariel is too young and Serena is engaged. Sorry Bill.

Here is the view going down the other side of the mountain.

I made it as far as far as Obanos and stayed the night in a Casa Rural which is like a Bed & Breakfast without the breakfast. Here are some shots along the way.

This roughly translates as: Virgin Mary- May I search for Jesus; May I find Jesus; May I truly love Jesus.

Yes, that's a horse in someone's front yard. I love this place.

Casa Raichu