The trouble with walking the Camino all day long and pulling into a new town is, you’re never going to get enough of it.

If you aren’t weary to the bone, there’s laundry to do, sore feet to attend to, a backpack to resort and repack, a communal dinner to attend.

Something. Always something.

Pamplona is like that. I was seriously thinking about a second day there. With good reason. My throbbing knee would have appreciated it. My road-weary feet (already!), too.

Mostly, Pamplona is visually, socially, and historically rich. And I barely saw any of that.

Those were my thoughts when I left the city just before dawn today. The all-night revelers and Camino hikers were crowding each other for hot cups of coffee in the few shops that were open. Delivery trucks were pouring into the city center, filled with baked goods, pastries, meats, kitchen supplies and the like.

It would be grand to linger and watch closely the daily life-cycle of Pamplona.

Instead, I limped along Avenue Major, past the sweeping green expanses of the Citadel grounds, past parks being circumvented by early morning runners and cyclists.

The Camino walkers were sparse until we reached the edge of town where golden wheat fields lap up against condo towers and modest homes.

Today’s amusement was a hike up a hillside — that’s “up” with a capital U and P. Another day of sharp inclines into the clouds.

For a marker, there was an array of windmills, about 24 following the ridge line. I was under the impression that we were to hike up to the base of the first windmill, hang a left, and keep hiking upward.

Just goes to show, I need to read the guidebooks closer.

Waiting for hikers is the iconic “Monumento al Peregrino (Pilgrims’ Monument)” on the Alto del Perdón (Hill of Forgiveness). It was created in 1996 by Navarrese sculptor Vicente Galbete.

Imagine how I felt to learn that was as high as we were climbing that day. Especially with a bad right knee and a busted hiking stick.

Nonetheless, it was a long hot hike to tonight’s auberge in Ponte de Reina. I’m sharing a dorm room with seven people of whom I already know four.

Guess the Camino is growing on me.

Good night!