Day 2 - Estella to Logrono

I had a problem with an earlier version so apologies to anyone who got it. 

A completely different day today. Weather was cool, cloudy, windy (not to our advantage) and occasionally wet. The profile, as shown below, was hilly and according to my navigation app requiring a good level of fitness. Derek has developed a bad knee which is worrying and slows him down in hills - of which there were plenty. We had a great time,



First visit was to the monastery of Santa Maria de Irache which is famous as its Bodega supplies pilgrims with free Rioja wine from the Fuente de Vino. It was 9:30 in the morning! The translation into English was clearly not done by a human being!









The road thereafter wound its way through the hills of Navarra and into La Rioja.  The road verges are covered in wildflowers - especially Cornflower. We visited (or decided not to and passed by where it involved further climbing) the communities of Villamajor de Monjarin, Urbiola, Los Arcos, Sansol, Torres del Rio and into Viana- where we met Christian again. We had lunch and a first glass of Rioja (now that we had entered La Rioja). 

URBIOLA


LOS ARCOS




VIANA








Finally, into Logrono - the capital of La Rioja - and our lovely hotel. A little sightseeing and it looks as if the town will be crazy tonight. I had a great glass of Rioja in a bar - check the price on the picture!  

LOGRONO








No additional caption required here!








We took the Walk of the Elephants There are 60+ tapas/ pincho bars on the walk and the name comes from staggering on all fours if you try them all. The way is marked with a curving steel line inlayed into the road. We had a great time and finished the evening with a very large Pataxaran and ridiculously large ice creams- Derek’s a strange combination of Rocquefort cheese flavour and Strawberry something(?). 



















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