Pamplona

behind the draw-bridge entrance to Pamplona
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Pamplona!!!!!!!

Hiked from Laransoana through a bunch of small hamlets in the rain and muddy trails and found my way to great walled city of pamplona.  You actually have to walk through a draw-bridge to get into the city and there is still a canal for the mote that used to be there.  The city is the biggest I´ve seen so far and is quite impressive.  It´s walled in and has very distinctive narrow streets (10 feet wide in some places).  The hostel was new and very modern.  it was quite nice.

small square near our refugio (this isn´t the main square)
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My legs are getting worse.  I did some research and I have seemed to have developed a common inflammation of the tendons and muscles in the shins.  I can´t lift the front left foot off the ground while my heel is planted.  I've contemplated staying for another day but most likely will push on since staying behind means paying for a room elsewhere in town (can't stay more than one night usually) and getting behind schedule.

I ate a real dinner for the first time on the trip - pasta, pork, french fries, icecream. I needed the protein and calories.  I could feel it, and now know that getting those 5 essential amino acids back in my diet will be a crucial part to my recovery.

The terrain is now very similar to southern virginia.  Quite hilly.  it´s nice to see the mountains of northern Spain in the far, far distance.