Footsteps to Journeys

15.6 miles, + 4,560 ft. 2.25 hrs

Up early…pumped and ready to go at first light. The journey up and over began with a steep grade and basically didn’t stop for 10.5 miles. Amazing views all around were welcome rest stops! We did stop at the refuge at Orrison for a mid-morning meal, since we didn’t eat breakfast. We had purchased baguettes with ham and cheese the evening before and chowed down.

Another rest and snack stop was at a food truck (!) high up in the mountains…almost to the top of the pass. A banana, some OJ and the end of our baguettes took us over the top, and through a long, and sometimes steep and very rocky descent in Roncesvalles.

Confession

After walking over 40,000 steps in 10 hours, I almost cried with relief when the Monastery came into view. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been that tired in my life! After a hot shower, dinner, and the pilgrim’s mass we were human again.

Dinner was an interesting experience as we sat at table with two lovely women, one from South Korea and  the other from France. Neither spoke much English and neither of us speaks Korean, and my French is the HS/college variety. From a long time ago! But we communicated fairly well between us. The surreal part was when Kyung-ai asked me to translate something Marie Therese was saying to her French!

Buen Camino!