Roncesvalles

We left St. Jean with the great initial high didn't last as you both realized. Valcarlos was the carrot. Having waited so many planning days, we had little patience. It was a slow uphill to Valcarlos, leaving us with the confidence of fools. Why it is only an additional so many kilometers to Roncesvalles. So we set our poles and paced on. Joan in the lead. With my greater stride, I didn't  want to over power her being afraid of the consequence. I began to realize at my best I was just keeping up with her. This is only day one!  

Evening service blessing us on our journey

Perhaps Roncesvalles is the easiest of arrival points. There is only one place to stay within reason. Joan is in the sack. I am sitting in the bar of the Pasadena having a well earned beer.
But, back to some additional thoughts. Yes we were suckered by Valcarlos. There were some listed off road divergences that promised a bitumen relief. They started by going downhill!!! For every step downhill you know you have to do two uphill to get to the pass. Hey do you walk like pilgrims or overthink every step. There are two k markers of importance 61 and 58. From these points the trail goes off road. In my mind slunk the erroneous thought that someone was going to make our uphill grind easier. As you know who have tested themselves, things get very grueling very quickly. Three breathes out forcefully and two relaxed inhails maximizes oxygen uptake. Putting mor weight on the poles to help the forward motion. Let's face it. Character, personality perseverance finally topped the pass. 


The downhill was such a change. The shower and beer are the rewards. I am in an upper bunk Joan below. Opposite us are two Austrians. One is a doctor. Communication close to naught. We are going to try and stay up till our first pilgrim meal at 7 followed be a church service. After today's punishment of body, we could definitely improve our spirituality. 

First night in bunk beds. Joan getting organized.

The Albergue at Roncesvalles