We made it from SJPdP to Roncesvalles. It was a deluge all day and for the last 3 kms the temps dropped dramatically and the rain turned to ice. This alternative route is every bit as difficult as the other one and not as pretty, not that we could see anything because of the clouds and rain. So perhaps it is pretty as well. It’s supposed to get colder and there is a possibility of snow and ice. Oh well!!

We had a really nice lunch in Valcarlos about halfway for our trip today. As we came across the last steep climb about 4 kms from our destination we heard thunder, it sounded like it was coming out of the mountain itself. The loud rumble made us want to get to our destination faster but alas that wasn’t working because of the steep climbs!

There was a lovely pilgrim dinner at several of the local restaurants. We ate at Hotel Roncesvalles. It was very nice. We met other pilgrims from Spain, Korea, Canada, Brazil to name a few. We are staying at the Roncesvalles monastery. In order to help pilgrims crossing the Pyrenees along the St James’ Way, around 1127, the Bishop of Pamplona, requested by King Alfonso I ‘the Battler’, founded the Roncesvalles Hospitality Institution. It has been updated and is run by Dutch. Oh and walking back after dinner it started snowing.

Tomorrow we head to Zubiri, where Lindsay and I met Mitchell and Noël for the first time.

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