All 9 pilgrims unanimously had set out alarms for 6:45a but I was the first out the door at 7:30a as all the others were sitting down to a jovial breakfast. I knew there was a monster climb immediately after the monastery so I preferred to tackle it on an empty stomach. Pictures rarely capture steepness so I’ll let the elevation profile below show how my day was!

Not quite as humid as yesterday and much more of the Way was along lovely forest paths so it was rather pleasant walking conditions, besides the 5 kms of climbing! Once I was up and over the hill I found the valley below had disappeared into the mist. The sun had just turned on its full glare so it was gone by the time I reached the valley floor.

Now that I’m back in Spain there’s been tons of painted arrows to show the way versus little bits of sticky tape in France but sometimes it’s still a guessing game (can you find it in the second picture?)

It really was a glorious day. The camino took a lot of back roads and forest paths with lots of shade. I passed through tiny towns with wonderful gardens and window boxes full of flowers. I saw my first vineyard! In the woods the path was strewn with acorns and chestnuts and once I had to give way to 2 huge white pigs that were snuffling up these treats, rather menacingly I might add!

I met up with Mom and John for a nice lunch in Elizondo. I unloaded several items from my pack to lighten the weight for the last 8kms only to find a grocery store and load up on snacks for tonight’s Happy Hour!

The last 2 hours was quite a grind – 28°C, “feels 31°” said my phone, either on hot, barren road or steep, gravel path. The Posada I booked tonight turned out to be a treat, we’ve a whole floor to ourselves and dinner being served to us at 8pm. We will all relax tonight!