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Saint Jean to Roncesvalles


Walking through the clouds across the Pyrenees

June 12
 
     Good sleep last night, very quiet room and I had the bottom bunk.  No-one was snoring! After getting up and packing completely we went upstairs for breakfast – there were different breads, fruit, coffee and tea.  I made my coffee stronger with the instant coffee shots I brought from home.  I filled up myself and snicked some bread out to eat later with the Pate on our walk.

We got a late start – about 7:00 am we started our walk away from SJPP and our camino across the Pyrenees had begun.  It was cool, the clouds were very low and foggy for most of the climb up. In fact, we could only see about 40-50 feet ahead of us, most of the sights I saw on my previous visits were not visible. Walking up the Pyrenees brought back memories of my trips with Jessy and Gabriela.

​When we finally reach the point up at the top where you leave the road to go to nothing but dirt road (the place where Jessy and I had the emergency tent stay) Carmen and I decide to have our lunch next to the big cross.  We opened up the Pate and the bread we snicked out from breakfast.  After lunch the clouds started to clear and we could see the sun at times.
     
When it came to the point to decide whether to go left with the steep descent thru the forest and a kilometer shorter or to the right which was longer but not as hard on the knees after walking for about 4 to 5 hours with the knees worn out and badly hurting we took what shortcut was allowed from the Camino.
Walking was very painful and at times with steps no longer than one foot in front of the other. 

​Taking the longer route was good because it told us exactly where we needed to go the next day to Elizondo.  We were able to see the trail to take the next morning upon arriving at the Monestario

Once we arrived at the Monestario we bought our tickets for breakfast, showered and rested a bit before going to dinner.  We walked over to the hotel and picked up our rental bikes, after assembling them we walked over and had dinner….croquetas of ham and mushroom ( which I made a second order) with patatas (large cut potato wedges) We had small sausages which we believe were Sautéed chorizo in red wine that were spicy, we were not able to finish eating so we packed them for the following day.
 
After eating we walked to the church and attended the Pilgrims mass.  As the mass was finishing the different countries were called out of all the participating pilgrims that had checked in that day at the monestary.  Well wishes and blessings were given in several languages at the end of the mass.
 
Carmen and I spoke very little on the long walk of today.  I being very careful not to rush her, so I chose my words very carefully.  
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Carmen -  What a beautiful walk.  As we climbed the hills and traveled on the rocky, sandy roads I did have my moments of hesitation.  The first vivid memory of hesitation that came to my heart was early on...as I walked behind Robert up a hill with the fog in front of me.  I wondered if I would be strong enough and would this be a good journey.  then I immediately looked to the left and there was a very big tree that had a hollowed area in the center.  Someone had put a picture of Mary with some flowers inside the hollowed area.  This was my answer - she was there and has always been there for me.  This reminded me that 15 years ago I found a book about El Camino de Santiago and I told myself as well as the school counselor that I wanted to visit this beautiful place.  

This is the beginning of a long awaited dream and desire - to walk and be in the area where Jesus's disciples walked and won hearts.  Let my heart open to your spirit Lord and fill me with love to give to others.  

Words are inadequate to tell my journey so I took many pictures.