Meet Larry, from the Czech Republic. His name is too hard for us to pronounce, so George just calls him Larry. Now, he is introduced as Larry and answers quite cheerfully to his new Camino name.
Pilgrim Larry
Stage Four: Larrasoaña to Pamplona
9/8 No mountain today!
Pilgrim George
Meet George, a retired Air Force pilot from Alabama. He’s 81 and on his 6th Camino: this is his 4th Camino Frances, and he’s completed the Camino Norte, and the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon.
Front and rear views! He has several Camino tattoos.
Stage Three: Burguete to Larrasoana
9/7 – 25 km / 16 miles (Actually came out to be 17 miles)
Beautiful and treacherous! Just about the time I’d think the treacherous trail would go on forever, the Camino would offer a respite (and then say, Just kidding! Here’s more rocks for you!
A hard day. Hard. If I’d navigated that trail any slower, I’d have been stopped.
Gusta la Opera
The Café Iruña, Pamplona is a historic venue. Mary had dinner there Wednesday evening with her new Camino friend, Ann.
It was that crowded when I was there in 2019 – not so in Covid times, but still busy. They have many outside tables, so people are not squished together, and they are not seating indoors.
9/6 Over the Mountain and through the Woods
These first few days are hard. I walked this same path two years ago, and what I remembered was the beautiful forest walk. Just as well I’d forgotten about the steep climb and relentless, steep, rocky descent.
More to come. More photos. More narrative. I have a day off tomorrow and will catch up.
Mary at Orisson
I sat in the grass on the side of the trail on the way to Orisson. Three young French fellows stopped to see if I was ok, and we had a little visit. One of them took my picture at Orisson. The sun was behind me- but I vouch that the woman in the photo is me.
Arrived Orisson & arrived Gite Antton.
Taxied down the mountain to Gite Antton which is only 30 minutes of slow walking from downtown SJPP Since I am not staying in group-sleep bunk bed situation, I’ve had to scoot back down the mountain to get a private room. They will take me back up the mountain in the morning. €8,00 each way.
Pantxo
Pronounced Poncho. This fellow is the host/owner of the gite where I stayed in SJPP. A wonderful guy full of humor and good will. He cleans the place by himself everyday. He prepares our breakfast, and when I returned from dinner, I learned he had arranged for my bag transfer and for transportation back down the mountain to my lodging (and for a ride back in the morning. And he gave me a Coke on the house!
Stage One: SJPP to Orisson
This was a short day, but a killer walk for Day One. Straight up. No switchbacks. Slow walking. Sometimes with little counts in my head. 1, 2, 3. Stop. Breathe. 1, 2, 3. Stop. Breathe. The last 2km was 4km long. Truth.
https://caminosunrise.com/stage-one-saint-jean-pied-de-port-to-orisson