Yvonne's Sketchbook

Lorca to Villamajor de Monjardín

Walk: Lorca -> Villamajor de Monjardín (11.2 miles)

A long hot day with at least half of the walking being uphill! The free wine fountain at Irache actually had wine in it (it was empty when I arrived at it in 2013).

Not many beds left when arrived in Monjardín but the albergue offered us a private room with three beds in it, we were more than happy to share and the room was lovely, with a view out across the village and the surrounding countryside. 

The church tower in Monjardín. From my sketchbook. Watercolour.

Saint Jean to Valcarlos

Walk: Saint Jean Pied de Port -> Valcarlos (7.01 miles)

It had been raining overnight but had stopped by first light. An early start for us. We're on our way!

We managed to navigate the various options which kept us off the main road. We rested and refreshed at Arneguy where we crossed the border into Spain. The last hill up to the albergue at Valcarlos is a total killer! Started to rain just as we arrived, lucky or what!?

Nice bunch of people in at the albergue and they plied us with iced water which was very welcome. Met Leo from Atlanta.

Massive spider running around in the shower with me - I think everyone must have heard me scream.

Me (left) and P leaving Saint Jean

Fantastic view from the municipal albergue at Valcarlos

And my watercolour of the scene...

The municipal albergue, Valcarlos

Cream-spot Tiger (Arctia villica) that I rescued from the doorway of the bar and put in a nearby plant pot.

It's been so long!

It's been so many months since I picked up pencils/pens/paints. Last year I walked, a lot - 500 miles in 6 weeks and sketched as I went along. It was good to be able to do that, and I did it for no other reason than I felt like it. My husband was out on the nearby moors and found a golden Eagle primary feather - it was a wonderful thing and I got this inexplicable urge to paint it. My first watercolour in 7 or 8 years.

Golden Eagle feather