Photos from Saturday & Sunday

On the way to Orisson

Albergue Orisson

Up in the Pyrenees

The sheep who came to visit me 

Looking rather silly, but keeping warm 

The canteen in the mountains. 

Leaving the pavement and onto a path. 

Roland's fountain

Signage 

St Jean to Orisson (Kayola) Day 1

I will have to post this tomorrow when I get wifi.

Had time to walk around St Jean this morning.  Explored the Citadel, which was built to protect the area from Spanish invasion. Met Sue who is waiting for friends to arrive and will set out tomorrow. 

Suffice it to say that sending my pack ahead of me was a very wise choice. (Convinced Sue to do the same!). Only 7.7 km yet very steep in places. Tomorrow will be worse!  I walked to Orisson and had a beer with Michelle and her (now my) Friedman Manom and Rene also from Canada. Grabbed my pack and headed back from whence I came to Kayola where I am staying. Orisson is more expensive and when I made the reservation I was feeling thrifty. Didn't realize I would have a steep climb up to dinner!  Will have to carry my pack in the morning for the transfer, but it's worth it. 

Amazing people. I understand what Stephanie meant about meeting people and wanting to spend more time with them, but we all walk our own camino and can only hope to bump into each other again later.  

Part of being here is letting go of what is happening at home--not worrying or sending home reminders. It's not easy. Rene threatened to throw away my phone when we were talking about it. Maybe it is a good thing that I cannot receive any texts or emails today. 

Blissfully quiet here. Will take the time to enjoy it. Buen Camino. 

I wrote this tester but did not think it saved.  Here it is!

Orisson to Espinal Day 2

Wow. So much to tell. No wifi yesterday so I could not post. I hiked 7.7 km to Orisson, which was a difficult hike in the heat and sun, but oh so very beautiful. Sending my pack on ahead was a very wise decision and I thank Joseph for being adamant about doing so. Before heading out I explored the citadel and bought a scallop shell for my pack and a hiking stick (that I left behind today).  

After a beer and some laughs with Michelle and her friends (now mine as well) mani and Rene I walked back 2 km to Katola where I was staying.  After cleaning up and washing my clothes I walked back to Orisson it looked like it might rain so I bought a sandwich for dinner (same as I had for lunch) and headed back to Kayola rather than stay for dinner. 

Met Fal and Grace from Jacksonville. Lovely couple who are taking nine weeks to walk. They shared their Jiff peanut butter & chocolate spread YUM crackers and cheese. We hung out enjoying the view looking back to St Jean. Bed early. 

Early start today up and up and up and up some more. Very glad that my pack went on without me!  Saw many sheep and horses up high. At one point I heard bells--lots of them and looked up to see a whole herd of sheep running down the hillside toward me. There were also Griffon Vultures and cows. One forest reminded me of Sherwood Forest except it was on a steep hill. It was the kind of day when I just kept stopping and looking back and around at the mountains. There was no sun--walking in the clouds. Fabulous.  

Arrives at Roncevalles having taken the left turn (not recommended due to steepness) by accident. Yikes. My bag arrived about an hour after I did; it was oy 1:00 so I walked on to Espinal. Wonderful private albergue (I wasn't too keen on staying at Roncevalles with 100 others) where I pay 2Euro extra for a bed rather than a bunk and 3euro to have my laundry done!  Very happy about that since my socks did not dry last night.

Tomorrow I will walk till I feel it is time to stop. I have great ambitions but my pack is heavy so I will take it slowly and play it by ear. Home cooked meal tonight here at the albergue. I am truly looking forward to that after three of the same sandwiches--2 yesterday and 1 today. 

Oh, there was a man up I the mountains selling food. That hard boiled egg was fabulous!

Day 0

Two flights, two trains and a bus ride later and I am at the albergue after a yummy dinner and thinking how great it will be to sleep. Absolutely beautiful here in the mountains. Took the bus because the train was so crowded and it was much better--got here faster and saw more scenery from the front seat. Met Matthew from Dublin and a woman from Vancouver. The other gentlemen in our room don't speak English so haven't really met them tho I did take their photo. Michelle (I will call her that) and her friends have hired a service to carry their packs for the next two days--to get over the Pyrenees. They are staying where I am tomorrow night so I am going to take Joseph's suggestion and avail myself of the bag carrying service. By the time I get to more serious climbs my legs will be stronger and I will probably gotten rid of some non-essential items and my pack will weigh less. Wishful thinking at any rate.  Will explore St Jean before heading to Orisson tomorrow. 

St Jean Pied du Port.

Logan Airport

At Logan trying to figure out what in my pack weighs so much. Found two Cliff bars that I will have to eat some clothesline that will go in the trash, and I will not take the whole roll of TP. Hopefully I will need to wear the fleece. Other than that I will have to suck it up and carry the load. 

Eight more sleeps!