The Adventure Begins

So far the Camino has been an experience like nothing I've done before, a combination of adventure and endurance test. Every day we are up early at sunrise and on the trail before breakfast. Our packs contain everything we need and only the bare minimum. The first day Fran and I mailed home things we could do without to keep the pack as light as possible. Stripped down to the bare necessities, we focus on the challenges ahead.

Every small pleasure, an orange shared on the trail, a cafe con leche in a warm and dry restaurant, tastes wonderful! The first day we climbed from St Jean Pied de Port straight up a mountain in a light rain and fog. Our rain suits served us well and the boots stayed dry but we were so glad to stop after about 8 kms at Orisson, our first albergue (refuge). There we met the people who have become such good friends on the Camino - an assorted collection from all over the world, Australia, Korea, Austria, France and Italy. We keep meeting on the trail and greeting each other as old friends.

Days two and three were more challenging than we could have imagined. The Pyranees provided us with spectacular views as we climbed higher and we marveled in the silence, broken only by the cries of falcons and the bells of horses grazing at the highest altitudes! There was snow as we descended through magnificent groves of ancient beech trees and over the border into Spain. At Roncesvalles when we couldn't have taken another step we waited for two hours for a bed in the albergue and then attended the pilgrim's mass where blessings were given in every language.

Yesterday we hiked to Zubiri for over 20 kms through peaceful farmlands and forested hills where the mud on the trail was at times up to our ankles- like good Canadians we bushwacked to avoid the most treacherous sections.

It's ironic how in the worst of conditions you can feel so alive!