Day Five

Starting the day
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Day 5, May 22

Maslacq to Navarrenx

Distance: 20km

863km to Santiago, 88km from start

Naverrenx city walls
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Again, a mostly cloudy start to the day. Yesterday’s hike went fine. Today’s hike was a little further but had five big hills. We learned that hills are Maries’ Kryptonite. She kept her pace brisk; but all five hills came over a two hour period, were steep, and at the end of the day she really felt it.

We got some sun at the end of the hike. But it’s been two days since we caught a glimpse of the Pyrenees and they must really be looming over us.

Got into Navarrenx , checked into Hotel du Commerce, had several reward beers, and got our feet up for a while. It’s a small town with intact walls from the 16^th century. Very pretty. We had enough energy to shop for wine and cheese and, on the way, watched several old men in a park playing Boules. They were good!

Town with church in view
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At six, there was a church service for the pilgrims and afterward the church ladies served a sweet white wine (verre d' amitie) and some cookies. We met our first American there since Toulouse, seven days ago. Bob Frazier from Albany, New York, was traveling by bike with two friends.

We spoke with several of the folks we met on the way to get a handle on their travel plans for tomorrow and it was clear that this would be the last evening we’d see them. We took pictures, exchanged email addresses, and said our goodbyes. We didn’t have a lot of language in common, but they were great folks, very helpful and welcoming .

Fellow travelers - Leo the German
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We’ve been treated very, very well by folks in the towns and fellow pilgrims on the road. They seem very happy and even grateful that Americans are on the Camino. There’s hope!

Villages: Maslacq, La Sauvelade, Meritein, Navarrenx