Viskarret to Arre - 26 km

Early morning start today... 26 km to cover. We were walking in the predawn at 6.15.

It was beautiful to walk in the mist, listening to the morning wake up cslls of the birds, thr tinkling of cow bells and sheep in far away paddocks caling each other.

This is the concrete hill of doom, as Morgan called it. 

It wasnt so bad, just relentless.

And it keeps continuing..

Finally into forest.. But then the rain snd mud began.

Mud over slate on a slope.. Dangerous- and very slow way of covering miles

Up the Pyranness

Just some shots as we make our way up the mountains on the way to the monastery at Roncevalles ( the top of the mountain range)

So many waterfalls.. So beautiful.

A blister stop. ( to stop blisters forming.. We jump on hot dpots straight away)

The first blue shell Camino marker on the track. These are everywhere to assist pilgrims find the way..

I love how many things. ( everything) on this Pilgrimage is about life... Is about how you DO life.. If you are looking for themarlets.. You see them.. Yet I have seen phrims walk right past them and going the wrong wsy.. Getting lost..

Its wet but we are still sming.

Ontop of pilgrim markers are poles of stones. Pilgrims normslly bring one stone from thier homeland and carry with them normally to cast off the Iron Cross, but sometimes it earlier.

Along the way, some feel thry need to pick up a stone and carry it some way, focusing an anger, a regret or negative emotion on it .. One they wish to release..and at some point, they can let it go.. And place the stone, representing this onto a pile.

As the pilgrimage goes further along, the piles get enormous.. As one may expectover  a thousand years.  

A lunch break.. Mmmm chorizo

And no.. We dont care where we rest..if you are tired enough.. You rest.

The mud gets pretty thick in places.

The path gets very steep as well. Gorgeous.. But steep.

Misty biew from the top.. So cold.

Gorgeous stained glass windows in a tiny church on the way.

Home sweet home for the night. We are in a monastery with 200 beds. We are in the loft. 

Roncevalles to Viskarret -12 km

Many pilgrims at the monastery last night were altering thier plans for today. The cold rain and sleet put many off waking early, as did newly found very sore muscles and bulging blisters.

As you are not allowed to stay longer than a night, many walked to the next village 2 km down the track to find a hotel or pension to hole up in.

We chose to just walk 12 km today. It was enough to warm the legs up and long enough to thank goodness we stopped when we did. 

The walk was scenic and I think we are easing into our groove. 

We splashed out and stayed at a pension.. Sort of a b and b..

So glad to lay down!! So delicious to have a long soak in a hot bath.  A pity there was no internet here ( thus this blog is late updating)

See my other blog for other phoyos from the day