Water and wine

After another unbroken night’s sleep, I reckon I’m regularly getting 7 to 8 hours, I felt refreshed and ready to make an early start on the 6th  stage, one of the easier sections with a total ascent of 370m and around 13 miles, a bit less because I was starting on the outer edge of the Camino in Estella. As ever it was a mile or so longer. I think I am getting used to the heat and the sun and I seem to have settled into a sensible 2.5 miles/4km per hour with regular water stops, often provided by a village fountain. There were fewer of these today so my backpack was considerably heavier and included the strawberries and custard pastry thing I didn’t finish yesterday. They made for a good lunch in a rare shady spot.
First stop was to look at the Wine Fountain which established by Benedictine monks to fortify pilgrims. It still works courtesy of the Bodegas winery, each day 100 litres are made available, first come first served. It is considered polite to drink enough to fill the pilgrims’ scallop shells. I did not partake, it was 7.30am, those that did said it was good.
The extra blip is typical of the Navarre countryside, green, at the moment, rolling hills, some high peaks, lush crops and poppies that are getting denser each day.
I arrived in Los Arcos at 2 feeling much stronger than yesterday. As ever my accommodation was very close to the Camino and tonight I have one the nicest rooms thus far, a small balcony, a ceiling fan and a super shower. After a strawberry Calippo ice lolly I recced the small town and was thrilled to see another stork nest in the Cathedral’s tower. 
Supper in the café below beckons.