Day Two on the Camino

 JIM: Wow! Where to start. Dave talked about yesterday walk of 16 miles and 400 plus elevation gain over the Pyrenees. It was 11 hourswith 25 ibs on my back. The mountains were absolutely beautiful with clouds,Hawks,wind and gorgeous villages in the distance. It really was arduous. Rosie was sick with asthma and had a very difficult time of it.i stayed back with her and Dave went ahead and secured our room.

The place we stayed in reconvalles was interesting.A huge dorm like place with barricades between Two sets of bunk beds. Dave and I were on one bunk and two spanish woman were onthe other. lei,Wendy and Rosie stayed in the next unit over. The place was huge and must have housed hundreds of people. By now we are getting to know other people like Fernando from Spain,laaircee from Brazil,sue from Australia etc etc etc. The fellowship is amazing! We ended up eating in a large room with perhaps 100 people. Trout, a local Navarre basque dish with pasta and yogurt and a bottle of local Navarre wine.

  We awoke with 3 men singing ave Maria and other catholic songs at 6 am. It was beautiful. There was no breakfast there so the 5 of us with our new friend La airceo began walking at 715 inthe dark with headlamps on(I still managed to trip on a stump). It was raining so we all had our rain gear on. At 3 km and at 15 or so km we stopped to eat. I had coffee and tortilla de papa y ja on and queso(Potatoe,ham and cheese) and cervasa with baguette with ham and cheese. It thundered with heavy rains and lightning as we made our way through the hilly terrain. We wandered through 4 or so little villages as per picture and spent most of the day in the woods. As I  walked in the rain I feel into a marching ,rhythmical trance pondering all things great and small. We arrived at Zubiri at about 230 pm.Only 7 plus hours  and another 20 plus km on the camino. We found a little pension in this quaint village overlooking the bridge over the river. Dave, La airceo and I are sharing a room(the homers) And we secured another room for the mujeres.

As I said the fellowship here is incredible. Though I am not religious I am going to the churches and mass. it is part of the journey. I am exploring ways in which I can become a better person and continuing to learn from those around me.

  Buen Camino!