Heading out of Logrono
Camino January 2026
Saturday January 10, 2026
Logrono to Najera – 18 miles
I got an early start (8AM, sunrise 8:39) because I planned to walk 18 miles to Najera. Navarette was the only town we walked through and it was only about 7 miles in. Almost immediately after starting I caught London as we were walking the city streets in the dark. I also walked in to Najera with him. We were together most of the day. As we walked in to Navarette Argentina and Holland were there. We went through the church together, then I headed to a café. London and Netherlands (a 40ish guy, I gave him a plastic bag on day 1 and have seen him several times since) soon joined me. London just turned 50. It seems like everyone is having some sort of foot problem. Knock on wood, I am doing fine so far.
Today is day 8 of walking. So far I have covered 118 miles, an average of 14.8 miles per day. I typically tell people day 7 or 8 is when things become easier. Your body is getting stronger. I have been kind of “cheating” by staying in the nicer places. I am not going to lie, it is nice to have heat that works and a warm space to take a shower. The people I have been mentioning are all part of a group now. They are staying in municipal albergues and eating together. I have been invited to join them, but I like my independence and little luxuries. I certainly sleep better in a private space.
The Spanish do like their hot water. The shower space may be small and cold, but the water is hot. I can not turn it to full hot. I feel it would burn my skin.
Today I arrived at my hostal at 3:10. The restaurant closed for lunch at 3:30, so I dropped my pack and headed right over. The food was excellent. They will reopen for dinner at 8, but that is too late for me. Some restaurants don’t reopen till 9PM.
Tomorrow is a Sunday, so no retail or grocery stores will be open. I am hopeful there will be a restaurant open in the town I walk through. This stretch between Logrono and Burgos is tough as most lodging options are closed. I did go to the grocery store in Najera today and got a yogurt and a nata for breakfast. They did not have fresh orange juice, so I will stick with water. To keep my yogurt chilled I put it in a plastic bag and hang it out my window.
The days are already blurring together. It is funny how my brain really goes to living in the moment while walking. This journal helps me keep track of the day of the month. Even when I started writing this journal entry today, I had to think about where I started from. Walking with and around people today also helps the miles go by faster.
Sunday January 11, 2026
Najera to Granon – 17.3 Miles
I have had a couple of comments on things that are different in Spain. I think we have brought this up in previous journals, but the ground floor here is the 0 floor. Some hotels have a mezzanine with a restaurant, so that is typically a letter floor. The first floor is the first floor with rooms. Typically that would be our second or third floor. The hotel I stayed at in Logrono had floor zero then 1 through 4. The elevator keypad had 0 – 9 floor buttons. It was a 5 story building.
My hotel last night in Nareja has the reception on the zero floor, but you had to go outside and down the street to get to the rooms. The restaurant was across the street.
Spaniards are very social and not in a hurry. The line at a grocery store can be 5 people deep and the cashier keeps chatting with a local. They may chat with me as well. It is not a big rush, just because someone is waiting behind you. Last night I tried a self checkout, but couldn’t figure out a bakery item, so I went back to the regular line. When I got to the cashier, she had seen me try the self checkout, so she brought me over and showed me how to do the bakery item. The line at the regular checkout just waited for her to come back.
In Los Arcos I booked a room the evening before arrival. I think I was the only reservation. My heat had been turned on, but only 1 of the 2 beds were made and there was only one set of towels.
Tonight the woman checking me in stated the heat is on a timer. It is after 7PM and it still is not very warm. (There are several blankets in the closet) The bathroom is quite cold, but the water is very hot. This is really a bed and breakfast, more than a hotel. There are 5 rooms total.
OK, I did walk 17+ miles today. The miles are getting easier. There was a town 4 miles in, Azofra. The bar (café) was open and they had fresh baked croissants. I was in. I also had a hot chocolate. Netherlands was here. We walked out together, but he is having foot problems. We went back and forth throughout the morning. He stopped at the next open bar at about 10 miles in. I did not see him after that. There were lots of vineyards to start, then it switched to more farmland.
Thirteen miles in I reached Santo Domingo, a town of over 6,000 people. Being a Sunday the streets were quite busy. I stopped at a local restaurant and even though the temperatures were mid 40s, the places were very busy. I had a great baked chicken dinner for 12 euros ($14).
Only 4 more miles to be done for the day. Granon is quite small (pop 300), so only one bar open. I think a lot of the crew stayed back in Santo Domingo. I am setting up for a short day into Burgos, so we should be on the same schedule again then. I did see 2 pilgrims about ½ mile behind me coming into town, not sure who they were.
Travel is the perfect catalyst for tolerance and acceptance. – Author unknown
Gary and Elizabeth's Adventures 