The Road to Orisson

We were up at 0645, had breakfast, and checked out of our room in St Jean by 0800. We are finally on The Road. Leaving St Jean there was a double rainbow that made our final pictures look like they were photo shoped. Amazing. We started our ascent alone, but we were soon walking with Steve, an American from Idaho we met on the train from Pamplona. Tagging along with him was a younger Korean man who didn't speak much English. He was pleasant enough, but silent most of the morning.

The road was paved almost 50% of our journey. The off road part was rocky but dry, so not much of a problem.  The wind picked up and the gusts pushed us sideways the rest of the day.   It was tiring.  Like all of the guide books said we were climbing straight up the Pyrenees all morning. We were glad we had spent so much time hiking in Warner Park because although tough it wasn't anything we couldn't handle.

At 1135 we came around a corner and there was the albergue (hostel) in Orisson. We were relieved, but we both agreed that we could have gone twice as far.   They only problem with that is if you go further you are looking at ten additional miles straight up with no services or facilities available.   For us the walk was best broken down into 2 stages. After a break, Steve and Korean man continued on to Roncevalles.

Once at the albergue we showered, washed clothes, had lunch, and Lu napped while I blogged.

Our room mates are quiet and respectful. Fred is from New Mexico.   We gave him an extra European power adapter and he is our friend for life. Ron from California is a fisherman. I like to talk to him.  Jerome from Denmark likes the single ladies and apparently they like him. Frederica from Italy who's English is excellent is very involved with what I assume is her boyfriend on the phone.  He will meet her later on The Way.   

We all assembled for dinner at 1830.  We started with a pureed bean soup, then roast pork with a white bean dish, bread, and a traditional Basque cake for dessert.   All perfectly done.

Lights out at 2200.  After the bean feast at dinner I  dread to smell what comes out of all six of us overnight in this room.   It reminds me of the scene in Blazing Saddles when the cowboys ate beans around the campfire.

The wind is still howling now and it started raining about 1900.  It's supposed to start raining tomorrow pm.  I hope we don't have to walk in the rain, but it is inevitable.

Tomorrow we will cover 10-11 miles more that are all up the Pyrenees. Our destination is Roncevalles.