Despite stepping out fully ponchoed against the deluge, I considered myself fortunate to have come over the pass yesterday. There’s no way I would be attempting it in today’s weather. The two Mexican pèlerins who I shared the albergue with were busy consulting the bus timetable to get over the pass (they are headed to Santiago, the usual itinerary). I’m not even sure they are well equipped for good weather, let alone a snow storm!
The walk today was pleasant. It would have been spectacular on a nice day, as it is a very narrow valley with towering mountains. Due to the rain, operating a phone camera is an exercise in frustration. I did get a couple of snaps, but there would have been more with a dry screen and a dry finger.
One of the old railway stations that’s been restored. Many are becoming ruins.The walkway is not primarily for pilgrims, but to gain access to the fort. One gun emplacement is visible. I took a rain check on photos of the main fort.Many horse breeding farms where the valley broadened out.
Unfortunately part of the trail was closed as a footbridge needed repair. Walking on the at times very narrow road was not ideal and I was thankful that I was wearing the hi-viz poncho. Once I regained the trail, I missed being on the road. The trail is ancient – hacked out of the rock face in places and showing signs of wear and tear after a few centuries of use.
Modernity has added a stainless safety cable. I was happy to utilize it!I took the all-fours upper detour. Straddling the log with a sheer drop to the river was not a viable option in the rain (or with limbs that have already done 25 km for the day!)
Tonight I’m staying at the Sarrance Monastery. The monks are very welcoming, and offer half board. No doubt it is a useful source of income for what is a very old religious institution deep in the Pyrenees. If it stops raining I will take some pics and update this post.
In 2009, we embarked on a one-year family sailing adventure aboard a Grand Soleil 39, "SV Mulan". Our original sailing blog is linked on this site.
In 2017, Susan, Andrew, Sam & Max walked the Camino Frances from St-Jean-Pied-de-Porte to Santiago de Compostella (and rode bikes from Burgos to Leon as a blister recovery strategy), and in 2018 Jack also joined the crew as we waled the northern section of the Camino Portuguese from Porto to S de C.
In 2019 Andrew, accompanied by Max for the first few hundred kms, and Susan for the Tiscan section, walked the via francigena from Canterbury to Rome. That journey is blogged in this site.
This blog is planned as an alternative to the endless instagram posts used previously to communicate with those interested in our travels - although there is a linked instagram account as well!
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2saunter 