Day 2 on the Camino... A day I'll remember for the rest of my life! Upon leaving the warmth and tranquility of Auberge Borda, I quickly learned all about what is known as the "Magical Mist of the Pyrenees!" The "Mist" is a little chilly, very wet, a bit (or a LOT), eery at times, enchanting, and yes, MAGICAL! 😍 There were moments that if patient for a few more minutes, out of the mist would come a statue, an open range horse or cow, a memorial, a fellow pilgrim...
The terrain was grueling for most of the day. There was more uphill that made me realize my pre-trip training was helpful, but due to the physical demands on my body with sometimes 15% incline with a 17-pound backpack, the training should have been more rigorous. By halfway through the day, I had to remind myself that I am a badass and I could JUST DO IT!! 😂 Positive self talk for the WIN!! 💪🏻
On the descent into Roncesvalles, I rolled my ankle on a treacherous stretch of the trail. With a little more than 2 miles to go, it was a "suck it up, buttercup" moment that taught me I was tougher than I thought. I had not seen another human for nearly 3 hours and was mentally preparing to spend the night in the woods if I was unable to make it to the albergue. During the last mile, I was joined by Alex... a pilgrim from England, who got a late start. Having someone to talk with was a great distraction from the pain in my ankle, and I'm happy to report that I made it all the way to the Pilgrim's Albergue of Roncesvalles! It was an 8 1/2 hour day. I was exhausted, yet so very thankful for this difficult day of my journey. After icing my ankle, I skipped dinner, went straight to the shower, and then went to bed. Something about hiking a nearly 13 mile, mostly uphill, trail led to the best night's sleep in a very long time!! 😴Read more