Tuesday, July 2: Camino- Day 1 St Jean Pierd de Port to Roncesvalles

Up ready and on the camino at 6:30. I started the morning walking with the Hungarian lady and the Italian guys but they left me in the dust. Up hill, up hill and more up hill all morning.  It took forever. Well that is what happens when you stop every 20 ft because you are from Florida, land of no mountains. (Except for Splash, Space, Big Thunder, and Everest, hahaha)

Fed the horse a piece of the bread I took for breakfast. 

Originally, I wasn't planing on going all the way to Roncesvalles the first day but the choices are 8km or 28km. There is no hostel in between.  I made it to the 8km outpost and bought a sandwich and a orange soda, used the bathroom and filled up my water bottles. I ate 1/2 the sandwich and saved the rest for later. 

Bugs

Flowers

They (the guys who gave me my pilgrim passport) had said it was easier after the first 8k. Not true! 

I hiked up and up. I walked across ridges and sides of mountains. I kept going, slowly. And like 100 people passed me. 

The scenery was beautiful. And I used photography as an excuse for a break any chance I got. 

Cows passed us going down hill. You can hear the bells on their necks from far away. 

For hours I was above the tree-line. It was hot. I ate my sandwich and was out of water. But I knew there was a fountain in the next km or two. 

We walked by herds of cows, horses and sheep. No fences. 

Soon after I walked back into Spain we dropped back int the tree line and there was the water fountain just coming out if the mountain side. It tasted so good, nice and cold. 

I still had 1/3 of the way to go. The first bit was nice and easy for a while. The path went through a forest where the leaves made a soft carpet on the ground. Oh how I wish it stayed like that. 

I met up with two older Portuguese guys who were doing 4 days on the camino with their friends, then stopping in Pamplona for the running of the bulls. These two guys were wonderful in helping me struggle through the last 6km.  Especially Jose who kept me entertained. We talked in a mix of Spanish and a little English. Jose tried to teach me Portuguese but I was too exhausted to remember much. 

I really struggled through the last bit. My right knee was killing me. All I wanted to do was stop, take off my pack and whine and complain and maybe cry. I was so glad these two guys pushed me to the end. 

It started to get cold and rainy just as we walked into Roncesvalles at 8:15 pm. Almost 14 hours of hiking. 

I hurried to the office to get a bed at the auberge €6. I greatfully dropped my pack, showered and joined some new friends (including a nice lady from Vermont) for dinner. We had to eat fast as the doors to the auberge locked and lights out at 10:00 sharp. 

I scarfed down a huge plate of pasta. Second course was fish but I got the vegetarian meal instead, salad cheese and a slice of tortilla de papa (a baked egg and potato dish). And a cup of flan for dessert. 

We hurried back to the auberge with 5 minutes to get into bed before lights out. Ahhh Advil and sleep...

Stats: 

Starting elevation 200m

Max elevation 1400m (~4000ft)

Distance ~28k

Pack weight: heavier and heavier with  each step.  Don't know about 18lbs. Maybe 20???