Walked today: 7.5 mi Camino 2023: 14.6mi
We left our backpacks in the lobby (for pickup and transport at 7:00 as our driver arrived to return us to our stopping point for yesterday. We had a nice conversation with Pelo, a native of SJPdP, during the 30 minute ride back up into the Pyrenees. He provides reasonably priced transportation for pilgrims, locally, as well as several trips per day from the Biarritz Gare when pilgrims are stranded due to frequent French rail strikes. He has a wife and two small children and was very hospitable to us. We strongly recommend him if you are in need of his services.
Today’s walk was dominated by fog and working out the muscle soreness. In summary, Linda seemed to thrive in the cooler environment and Jim struggled a bit.
Unlike yesterday’s all uphill, today started that way, but at the midpoint, it was almost totally downhill from there on. We also chose an alternate route to temper the downhill in exchange for some extra walking distance.
The scenery in this area is spectacular but was not evident today due to the ever present fog.
We arrived at Roncesvalles at noon, after 5 hours of walking. Like yesterday, we were tired but apparently getting stronger and some of the soreness had dissipated by dinnertime.
The food at Casa de Beneficiarios has always been excellent for our five previous visits and number six did not disappoint.
We attended the 8;00 mass with our friend, Kris and chatted a few minutes after the service, then bid him farewell.
Our Camino 2023 plan calls for us to take a break here, by spending two nights, to recoup from jetlag and the difficult first two days, which at this point was a brilliant idea.
“What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger!”
Jimandi 