MeAndering the Camino

A light rain meant it was darker than I expected at 6:30 this mor ing so I waited until 7:00 and then hit it. A little walk into the old town and a stop in the church before walking out the Spanish Gate and beginning the adventure. Walking to Orrisson, 8 km away, was my stop for breakfast. I was famished and had not a dry stitch of clothing on my body when I went into the cafe at The Orrisson Albuerge!

Due to the rainy weather, I had put on a poncho over raincoat and 1/4 zip so my backpack would stay dry too. So parts of me were soaked due to rain and everything else due to sweat and it was only 8:57am! The coffee, Tortilla Patatas and a sandwich for later gave me a new start. Filled water bottles, got everything on and was at it again! Talking with others during the day, I compared it to a roller coaster, one boards the vehicle pulls away and immediately does the steep climb! That first 8 km ( 4.5 miles) rose 677 meters (2200 ft).

In comparison, the next 11 km (7 miles) rose 820 meters (2680 ft). The wind and mist made an interesting walk. Not nearly as steep but could tell the climb. The scenery is beautiful even in the rain, sheep, horses and cows graze on fields fill of gorse and grass. I am sure in sunny weather, the yellow and pink flowers are stunning. At the highest point we were at 4800 ft. Most of the paths were single lane asphalt or through fields. Signs warned that livestock graze freely which also meant dodging their droppings added to watching where footfall occurred. After much of the climb was over, we were rewarded with a 5km (3.1 mi) plateau through some dense forests. In the midst of this, we crossed into Spain! Just before the “border” is the Fountain of Roland. A Tribute to Charlemagne’s general who, while bringing up the rear flank of a journey, was attacked and killed in this pass.

Not far from this Fountain of Roland is the Spanish Border-

Just before the end of the plateau, there is an “emergency shelter” for those that need a break, are not feeling well or need to escape the weather that sweeps through the pass. It was a perfect pace to enjoy the sandwich I had bought at breakfast! Also got to talk with several other “peregrinos” from Georgia, Alberta and France.

After hitting the summit of the walk, we began a steep 5km (3.1 miles) trek down through a lush forest whose slopes away from the trees were covered with the yellow gorse and the pink flowers.

Finally, 38,262 steps/ 14.5 miles/ equivalent of walking 242 floors/ and almost 8 hours, I arrived in Roncesvalles. So happy to come out of the forest and see the Albuerge!