Is traffic warden yellow and fushia pink a good colour combo? I hope so as those were the colours I was sporting when I had reached the top of the pass. Fushia being the colour of my face I decided to take the advice and take the lower pass route
Daniel from Brazil, Nick from Holland, Kevin from Australia ,Gunther from Germany doing the route at the same time. Christine from Belgium three years into recovery from cancer and raising money for the hospital that treated her,cycling from el puy in france, 3 hungarian women teachers a lady from holand in her 70s doing the cimino for the 5 th time Ileft st jean at 7 30 am and arrived at destination at 2 30pm approx 28 km of mainly uphill slog it was tough but I made it some pain in my ankle but I hope that with sleep and some ibuprofen it will go for the morning. I walked on my own for quite a while safe in the knowledge that there were others in front and behind. There were some parts through the woods that were mystical and wonderful with fine mists and possible unicorns that passed me by. After walking for about 5 hours suddenly a 4 by 4 wheel drive approached from no where full of people. 'Youre going the wrong way' they exclaimed' I was lucky to be led back onto the right path, without meeting them I would have ended back In France ! However I didn't feel that stupid as everyone in the car apart from the kind Spanish driver had done the same.
The auberge at Roncevalles is huge but extremely well organised and clean. My bed number is 236. Hundreds of beds organised over 3 floors in groups of 6. I was told I would be sharing with 3 Hungarian women but On arrival found my self sharing with 2 Italian guys and a German ......gorgeous!
Off to mass now and a pilgrims blessing from the Benedictine monks and afterwards a pilgrim meal for 9 euros.
In this building is literally every nationality I can think of. This is the last time we will all be together as from now on the auberges become much more frequent with more places to stay.