Stage 6 – the day I visited Hell on Earth
Start: 6:30, 9 ºC, cloudy
End: 11:45
Distance: 21.3/132.8 Km
Stayed at: Pension Ostadar
OST: Andrea Bocelli – Il Mare Calmo Della Sera
After saying goodbye to Hamilton one final time, I embarked on an almost unremarkable stage.
My 300-metres-marathon had bore fruit, and my dry shoes could carry me to the end of stage 6 without too much pain.
With a more relaxed outlook, it was easier to find time to chat and socialise.
Riccardo and his second wife came from Australia. In their 60s, both remarried, quite flamboyant about the long walk ahead, definitely more physically fit than I’ll ever be. We had the same shoe brand, so there was hope.
Free wine!
Just outside Estella, in a region known for its vineyards, a friendly sink offers free wine. At 8:00, it has to be free. And if you tasted it, you’d know why. Our Korean friends had a huge party here.
Los Arcos sucks
Los Arcos has a spectacularly limited offering for pilgrims. It’s more or less a fuel station in the middle of the desert, an oasis, if you will – a demonic oasis dominated by pickled snacks and overprices asparagus.
Asparagus is the national religion of this Basque area. If you don’t like asparagus, well, you might as well skip Los Arcos and walk straight to anywhere else.
“Anywhere else”, also known as “better than Los Arcos”.
Did I mention that Los Arcos sucks?
Just in case.
Los Arcos SUCKS. Don’t be like me: stay somewhere else, anywhere else.
Previous stage: Stage 5: Puente La Reina – Estella
Next stage: Stage 7: Los Arcos – Logrono
Camino for Closers 