It's a good thing I had no Internet in Roncesvalles, or you would have gotten an earful. This day was rough. It was pretty much all uphill for 25 km, and then it got way worse by making us go down for 3. It killed my feet, it killed my self-respect, it killed any notion I ever had of being a sane person, but it did offer a killer view at the top! (Check out Facebook.) Actually, to be more truthful, most of those emotions came during the first 8 km, the worst of them all. (They don't ease you into this thing.) Once I had an Alpine view and started meeting people, I did better. Nothing starts a conversation like, "So, how badly are you hurting right now?"
After the 1,100 meter elevation climb up and the 300 down, we arrived relieved in Roncesvalles to a gorgeous and ginormous medieval church and monastery. I was so happy! The albergue has been remodeled and refurnished in the the last three years and was very comfortable, even though it has nearly 200 beds. And I'm sure over 160 were full with my new best friends. That was one thing I appreciated about this day: it definitely felt as if we were all in this together. Cheering someone else on to finish well was helping yourself be successful. I took a long, hot, glorious shower and had a scrumptious three-course meal at La Posada (of The Way fame). Everyone crowded into the 13th-century church for a pilgrims' mass, and I was surprised to see just how many were indeed Catholic. Pretty much as soon as that was done, I heard my bed beckoning me, and I'm certain I fell asleep on my bunk mate Anna while we were chatting - killed by the Pyrenees.
Sounds like you are on a great adventure kinda like Bilbo Baggins. Thanks for posting. We love you and are praying for every step!
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