Auritz

Today was long and hard but stunning. By the time the shuttle got me to Borda to begin, it was 9:30 - really late to be starting today's long trek. The first nine miles or so were straight uphill. The wind was brutal, making it impossible to stand upright. And it was blowing against us the whole way up. Just when I thought I couldn't go on, there appeared a little oasis - a food truck with a charming proprietor in a jaunty French beret. Everyone passing by stopped to rest and recharge. A little ways on a stone cross marked the turn off the roadway and up a mud and rock path. The wind got stronger the higher we climbed and it got harder to fight forward against it. A grassy hillside was a welcome rest stop, and I reached it just as two French ladies got up from showing their rears to the mountains and cursing the Pyranees!

Finally I reached the Col de Lepoeder, which the French claim as the highest point on the Camino (the Spanish beg to differ). The views were truly magnificent and serene, seeing God's handiwork stretch out for miles in every direction.

But then came the long walk back down out of the Pyranees. I'm not gonna lie, the downhill part almost did me in. But Ikept getting glimpses of the monastery where I'd be staying tonight, and that kept me going. I sure was exhausted when I got here!

I met up again with Vanessa and Terry, the Episcopal priests, a nice volunteer washed and dried my filthy clothes, and I had a fun dinner with Claire and her mother from Australia, Gabby from Germany, and a bunch of rowdy Frenchmen.

I ended the day with the Pilgrims' Mass, a beautiful service at which the priest blessed us all. I'm exhausted but ready to do it again tomorrow!

Steps: 34,565
Miles: 14.63Read more