Day 2 Uterga to Estella

Experienced the joys of a hostel - loud snoring all night but that´s part of the package and fringe benefits.  We both felt great this morning, lots of energy.  Our first village, Puente la Reina, is known for the bridge built by the Queen in the Middle Ages so the pilgrims would not be at the mercy of the barge operators who would steal from the pilgrims.  We have read about some of the history of the camino and it is so awesome to actually be here!  Next it is up to Maneru then down, then way up to Cirauqui with its very steep narrow streets.  We encountered a group pushing and pulling a young handicapped man on a recumbent bicycle.  Every time they overcame an obstacle they would all cheer.  The mud and rocks became things to celebrate.  We had planned to spend the night in Lorco - 20 kms from our start - but the two Auberges were full.  So on to the next village 4 or 5 kms. away.  We arrived at Villatuerta and there was one bed left.  We thought the young Irish woman behind us would take it but she left it for another woman who was really struggling.  Such is the spirit of the Camino.  The Irish woman, Edwina, caught the bus with us to Estella - 4kms further down the road.  In Estella a passenger got on the bus and informed us all that all of the beds were taken here as well.  Our next option was a hotel, so the kind bus driver told us where to find a hotel that usually took in pilgrims and would not be too expensive.  Another "angel".  Edwina had walked almost 40 kms that day (our 25kms didn´t seem so far after all), and could hardly make it to the hotel.  She used Bernard´s walking sticks and we gave her a water bottle and once she was registered we sent her up to her room.  An hour or so later she called us to thank us for our help and wanted to meet for dinner, which we readily agreed to.  Over dinner she explained that she had promised her elderly grandmother that she would do some of the camino but that day would be end of her camino for now.  Buen Camino Edwina.