We made it up to Orisson by 1 PM which was cut off time to get lodging even if you have reservations, which we did. Very foggy up here. Such stunningly beautiful country. Unlike any part of the earth we’ve ever seen. I’ll try to get photos into the gallery so you can get a little idea what I mean by that.
It started out nicely cloudy to keep the heat down but very humid. Nancy soldiered on but I watched over her as best I could to make sure she her pharyngitis wasn’t developing into something worse. So far she has no fever or other symptoms. Here voice is getting some better though.
Oh my! That trail was steep. Worse than expected. Endless incline up up up. Almost never a flat level area to recover on. Most of the eight kilometers was like walking up Todd and Janet’s driveway. But so beautiful! Stunning, unreal scenery such as we’ve never seen. Ireland like green but with everywhere sharp peaked steep sided hills with cattle and sheep clinging to them grazing. Quiet. Just the bells on sheep ringing through the still air. Occasionally a Basque sheep herder would rattle by slowly on the one car narrow winding asphalt road. Usually trying to ignore us walkers, of which we were part of many, with their best sour puss look on their faces. Evidently walkers have caused problems in the past if nothing more than invading these Hobbit Shire like idyllic expanses. I can’t blame them. It would be like having your favorite fishing spot discovered by army ants.
We are up in the clouds here at the Orisson Albergue. Foggy. Lifted enough after supper so that we could see all the way back down to St Jean Pied de Port. Glad that climb is over.
Todays climb will be just as tough or worse and many here including us wonder if it’s even possible. Yesterday’s climb was challenging. But we are only one third of the way to the next albergue in Roncevalles. We either make it fourteen kilometers more of up and then two kilometers of steeply back down or sleep with the cows and sheep on cold windy nighttime heights.
I am really enjoying following your journey. I hope you both are feeling better. The pictures are amazing. Love you both!
Curt’s bronchitis mostly gone, now he bruised right knee with too much steep downhill paths. Going downhill is rough. I got my voice back but have mucus at night. Not good for Curt about my voice. 🙂 We are going only about three miles today to rest up instead of recommended 14 miles. Kyler is almost as tall as Kinley. We update when we have energy and connection. Love to all. Nancy