Camino Day 1 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles

 

Roncesvalles Church and Monastery 

Roncesvalles town

Views to Roncesvalles- the descent path is to the left. 

In the mountain forest there were no views as I was in the clouds

Up in the clouds

They have cow bells!- walking along and you hear them on the cows and horses. 

Early morning view back to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Orrison was a welcome rest after my first big climb of the day. 

Early start at 5:40 as I woke early.. used my head torch for 1/2 hour before daylight. The ascent to Orrison was steep… 600m in 7km. At about the 6 km mark I was struggling, but on arrival at Orrison had a coffee and a rest. After Orrison there was a further climb of 800m but it didn’t feel as bad in the mountain air of the Pyrenees. It was about 6-8 degrees. The walk was a mixture of road, trail, muddy forest track, and rocky trails. After getting to the 20 km mark the descent into Roncesvalles was treacherous.. rocky or muddy for most of the remaining 5km. With the pack on it was jarring on hips feet and back so needed to go slow for safety and to look after my body. 

On arrival at Roncesvalles another coffee and a local apple cake then I checked into the monastery at 2pm. - it’s been renovated so clean and of a high quality. It’s a big dorm style accommodation over 3 floors with 287 beds. 14 euro for the bed and 12 euro for evening 3 course meal.