Todays' journey to Puenta La Reina is a distance of 20 kms or 12 miles. The highest point is Alto del Perdon at 790m.

The route includes the villages of Zariquiegui, Alto del Perdon, Uterga, Obanos and finally, Puenta La Reina. But as bro. William starts the day, there are still 450 miles until the final destination of Santiago de Compostela.

This next stretch has few trees and therefore little shade. Ahead of us is a range of hills with wind-powered turbines clearly visible on the skyline.

We climb up through these at the Hill of Pardon Alto de Perdor before dropping steeply down on loose boulders into the valley beyond.

Here the Camino Arabones (via Arles and the Somport Pass) joins the route at Eunate. As we ascend Perdon there are wonderful views back over Pamplona.

To the north is a ridge of low hills, the Sierra de Andia and towards the south the conical peak of Higa at Monreal with the Sierra de Leyre as a backdrop beyond which is the Somport Pass.

Leaving Cizur Menor, the path winds through open arable fields. It was over this very ground that Charlemagne's Christian forces defeated Aigolando's Muslim army.

Today a more peaceful spot is hard to imagine as we leave the main roads and city behind us.

Further on the path crosses a stream and small lake as we begin a gentle climb and bypass the ruins of Guendulain palace (in the woods to the right - we can see the castle ruins once we have cleared the tree line) to Zariquiegui.

Zariquiegui with its dominant Church of Saint Andrew San Andres and beautiful Romanesque doorway. We continue through the village and up steeply now towards the wind turbines. 250m before we reach the top of the ridge is a drinking font on the left (usually dry). From here we take a last look back over the Pamplona plain and the Pyrenees beyond.

Alto del Perdun (altitude 790m) featuring a wrought iron representation of medieval pilgrims, heads bent into to the west wind. An information board gives a brief outline of this area and the ecological project (renewable energy) it fosters.

Looking ahead are the villages we will pass through spread out below lining our route westwards. The conical peak of Monte Arnotegui with hermitage atop is situated overlooking Puente de la Reina and is just visible ahead on the horizon.

We descend carefully over the loose stones and through the scrubland to the rich red earth, vineyards and almond trees below. Here the path winds along a delightful ridge running parallel to a quiet country road that we join at Uterga.

Obanos - Plaza and albergue - opposite the imposing parish church and shaded cloister is what we notice in this historic village. Here the noblemen of Navarre met in the 14th century in an effort to limit the power of the monarchy. Their motto translates loosely as `Liberty for people and country.'

The impressive neo Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist Still Juan Bautista has a splendid retablo and statue of St. James.

The skull of St. William is also housed here in a silver reliquary giving zest to the mystical play enacted here every few years.

Finaslly we reach Puenta La Reina with its magnificent Romanesque bridge with its six arches, spanning the local river.

Bro. Williams' thoughts of today - receiving the pilgrims blessing and going to mass in another language challenges my understanding and beliefs in God.