Day Six – updated.
Estella-Lizarra to Navascues
61 miles. 5040 ft climbed.
I will attempt to write the blog tonight but have no photos as have poor reception on side of a Pyrenean mountain. I’ll update tomorrow.
Today would be the last day we cycled on the Camino route in Spain before deliberately avoiding Pamplona and then finding a harder mountain pass to climb to cross into France. As we did not have a full day Chris’s pilgrimometer only got to 71.
It remained hot overnight and as the temperature was often exceeding 35C probably the hottest day of this years trip.
We said our goodbyes to Stefan and Michelle from Namibia who very kindly said to call them if we ever visit Windhoek.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7192.jpg?w=768)
Our first off road experience was within half a mile of the campsite and even included some steps – this did mean we all dismounted and then instead of carrying on via the Eurovelo route chose the quiet main road.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7197.jpg?w=768)
The scenery had started to change and was more rolling hills so it was a more interesting ride. The main road avoided all the little Camino villages so we detoured off to collect our stamps and ensure we felt the experience.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/3978751d-ed74-4976-8464-d95cfad9d3fa-1.jpg?w=768)
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/655975fb-82ef-4811-b1db-3718a2a37381-1.jpg?w=1024)
As the villages are usually at the top of a hill at one of them there was a sweaty queue of walkers and cyclists waiting to collect their stamp.
Again we kept to the main road with our final camino call a little off track at the unusual octagonal church of St Maria de Eunate. Not only did we collect our last stamp but we also heard ( from outside) some Portuguese nuns singing inside.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7214.jpg?w=1024)
It was not far to our coffee stop which Nigel and Monica had found on the edge of a pretty well kept village.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/043607f2-934c-4f09-841f-89f9e6b5d8d0-1.jpg?w=1024)
Leaving after coffee we went straight off road on the gravel Eurovelo route so avoiding the ever busier main roads into Pamplona. Returning to the real world we had a minor reroute as the satnav road had been blocked by yet another new road.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7223.jpg?w=1024)
This brought us under a magnificent 17 century aqueduct with over twenty arches, before we then had a tough but tedious run of almost 15 miles alongside the motorway on the old road. In the heat this was hard work which we tried to alleviate by rotating the peloton.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4dd4ea44-b7e3-4651-bfd2-f933eca77cf9-1.jpg?w=768)
Luckily before coming off this road there was a six mile downhill section on wide smooth road where everyone hit well over 40 mph.
Lunch was taken just after 2pm in scorching hot temperatures watching a fellow jump into the river from the bridge.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7228.jpg?w=1024)
In theory there was only 30 miles to go but as we were wild camping that could easily be a further 15 uphill miles on top so we decided to complete the next climb and reassess the position in 15 miles.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7232.jpg?w=768)
Although we all completed this leg well the temperature was taking its toll and rather than take on the next up and over it was decided to take the camper to a wild camp site. This was not before an unnecessary jobsworth fireman had told us to move off as we were blocking his exit. We were not!
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/53400e47-ce6e-492e-96b7-af51fce5cacd-1.jpg?w=1024)
In the end we found a wild camp off a side road high in the mountains with the tents hidden from view. Incredibly the owner turned up twenty minutes after it had all been put up but Nick charmed him and Nigel gave him a beer so we were allowed to remain where we were, even being invited back to use his bothy.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/8274dfb4-8608-40c9-8f97-5fdb9f768b21-1.jpg?w=1024)
It’s a terrific pitch with an attractive waterfall a ten minute walk off the road. I even found some Bee and Butterfly Orchid plants I have never seen in the UK.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/359f2b97-92cf-4b31-8933-de62466cd202-1.jpg?w=768)
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7250.jpg?w=768)
Chicken with Monica’s Beetroot and Apple Salad was on the menu tonight with the card game ending earlier than usual so the boys could get back to their tents in the light – and before the forecast rain arrived. It has, together with some thunder to break the hot weather. The forecast for the next few days is not favourable but let’s hope that’s wrong.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_7245.jpg?w=768)
A great final full day in a very hot Spain, we enjoyed the further Camino villages visited, a couple of cool churches, saw some forlorn Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to convert the pilgrims ( yes really !), the most cyclists during the tour and went flying down some hills before finding this idyllic wild camping spot complete with cow bells and chirping frogs. Let’s hope that Nick is able to read the blog tomorrow morning and his tent has not been washed away in the storm.
![](https://nbjtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dbe50722-42c1-4524-b752-cec1523c0533-1.jpg?w=768)