Leaving Loyola for Zumarraga

 A long day started with breakfast in Loyola as we then left the ancestral home of Ignatius and headed to Zummaraga. We stopped at the Santa Maria La Real church in Azkoitia, another stopping point for Ignatius on his way out on his transformation. The town celebrates Ignatius as his Mom lived there for a while and so young Ignatius was raised there for a few years. 

Then it was on to Zummaraga via a 7-8 mile trail that ran the whole way on a slight incline. 2 stopping points on the trail and 1 after for a late lunch and we moved onto Zummaraga to catch a mini-bus to take us to Arantzazu where we’ll spend the night. We visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantazazu where the statue of the Virgin of Arantazazu is displayed. The statue, miraculously discovered in a thorn bush in a field by a shepherd is credited with bringing reconciliation and peace to the region and was a place that Ignatius came to pray on his way to Jerusalem. 

Mike was finally able to join us and we celebrated another intimate mass and the. Had a great dinner at the Goika Benta Hostel. 

14 miles covered today but the tired and inspired crew will head out tomorrow to head to Laguardia. The weather forecast calls for rain but hopefully light and hopefully not all day.

Still loving the reconnects with long lost brothers and growing deeper in our bonds, laughing like we were 18 again and moving spiritually to be closer to God

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