Étape 27: Berdun- Sangüesa, 22 kms, Sunny, 22

Foz de Lumbier 

There was really no need to be up early this morning as our bus wasn’t coming past until 9:25 and breakfast in the bar wasn’t until 8:00, but I wake early and had the pleasure of watching the early morning light touch the sky. Perhaps my favourite time of the day when the church bells aren’t ringing yet and the flies haven’t started buzzing into our room:)

After breakfast we walked down from the town to the National highway and waited for our bus. We aren’t use to such big skies where we live unless we are looking out on the ocean, so I really enjoyed the ‘big sky’. My friend Ken lives in Regina and when he posts local walks there is always a huge piece of sky. Not much else, but so much sky! One day Ken maybe we will go walking under that sky with our cameras. 

The bus dropped us at Liédena and we soon found the variant that I’d done a bit of research on last winter. It’s an old wide gage railway bed that was built in 1911 and was used until a wild New Years party in 1955. At least that’s what I figured out when reading between the lines from this sign using my marginal Spanish. The dates work. You can see just how wide the track was separated by the black bricks to the left. 

We set off and soon caught up to a local who was out enjoying his morning stroll. He showed us a short cut and we went one way, he the other. We passed through an olive grove with trees heavily loaded.

Later we found a font and while we were dumping our heavily chlorinated water and replacing it with cleaner tasting water, he reappeared. For the next several kilometres he entertained us with information about the area and the route we were walking. 

He told us about the local Roman road and the Roman settlement just across the way. He was willing to share his local knowledge and we felt quite fortunate that we’d bumped into him.

He left us at the first tunnel which is 600 metres long and very dark in the middle. Lights on!



Outside the tunnel there is a broken bridge that use to be a part of the original Camino Aragones, but the story goes that the devil destroyed the bridge. Actually it was was the French.

After passing through the tunnel we found ourselves at the start of the Foz or Gorge. By the way, we are getting as tired of wearing these same walking clothes as I’m sure you are of looking at them! As the weather cools in the coming weeks, I expect to make a wardrobe adjustment. 

The Foz.











After the second tunnel we came out of the gorge and walked 3 or 4 kms to Lumbier...which has a nice medieval bridge, Neil.

We visited a medical clinic for a small issue (don’t worry Mom, really simple) and Rob I used SayHi app to communicate. Worked great and the doctor downloaded it onto his phone as well. We found a nice lunch at a small tucked away bar and then we retraced our steps back to Leidena and picked up the highway there for the grind into Sangüesa.

Getting a diagnosis: It was fortuitous today, when we happened upon a clinic that was not busy, and Geoff was able to quickly address his minor medical issue. His mind was put to rest and he was given treatment to prevent any further development. Since becoming involved with the Alzheimer’s Society I have had a number of conversations with people who are concerned for themselves or for a loved one. They are noticing subtle symptoms, and have asked if their concerns are legitimate. I always tell them to go to a doctor to have it checked out. I have also talked to people who are afraid of exploring a diagnosis because of the stigma attached to the disease. In my view, like any other medical condition, exploring these concerns with a doctor helps to identify next steps. For people with Alzheimer’s, some treatments may have an impact, and even if treatment isn’t available, there are a range of other supports, including help to plan for the future. A diagnosis (or lack of one) may not always be good news, but it does help when it comes to determining next steps.

Tonight we are staying in a simple truck stop. The room smells of cigarettes, but the shower is ‘lively’ and the bed is fairly level. We are happy to have a bed, a cold beer and food tonight, just 60 kms from Puenta la Reina which we intend to reach in two days. Both of us are getting excited to revisit our first Camino route and relive some of the early memories of our 2013 Camino. 

Buen Camino!