September 5th

Friends,

I am finally walking!  Just enough for a first day.  Since the intermediate albergues were both completo, Angel insisted on driving me, on a one lane country road high above the timber line to spontaneous on the Camino where it intersected this road. 

I thought I had a photo of the hundreds if orejas ( starting to think in Spanish!) sheep, but I didn't' get it.  Oh, we'll.  the wind was ferocious.  I needed my sticks to keep from falling over.   The mountains are beautiful, vast grassy slopes, dropping off into small farms, houses all with red tile roofs.

After the very top, we descended IMO. A series of copses with thick forests of birch and alder under which  green grass was mixed with moss, 

Nerea says that Navarra had a wet, wet winter and spring but is now unusually dry.  Plenty of grass for the sheep and horses remains, thank heavens.

The descent into Roncesvalles was brutal  - I found out after reaching the albergues that the tourist bureau in St. Jean was advising people not to go the way I went.  

We walked down 600 meters in 2 miles - my legs were trembling.  

All love,   Mbr