Orisson to Roncesvalles (Spain)

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Hi everyone,
I managed to walk for 3 days now with no problems so far.
The walk from St Jean Pied de Port to Orisson was steep and very overcast - the reception meal and atmosphere was wonderfull but the inn was full and had to have a TENT - about 10pm the mist had settled low and on retiring the night sky was clear with no wind - it looked like we were on an Island - a moment to remember.
The next day with bocadillos in hand we climbed and crossed the Pyreness with a clear sunny glorious day. We saw so many free roaming mountain horses and many young foals at hand. We even saw 3 just born and one standing and taking his first steps - a moment to remember. I was taking so many photos I ran out of battery and had to call for reinforcements from Ron to use his camera untill I could get mine recharged.
Roncesvalles had the most beautiful cathedral and we stayed in the old Benedictine Monastery building with arched cathedral ceiling. Pilgrims were invited to a special mass and were woken with beautifull music in the morning.
Well thats all for now I am just sorry that I am not able to send you the visuals.
Until next time.
Regards Begonia

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Photos

P1000484 Orisson Albergue owner Jean-Jacques Etchandy.
Orisson to Roncesvalles - Orisson Albergue owner Jean-Jacques Etchandy. Provided Dinner and breakfast in price of accomodations. Tents were cheaper. Jacque could not find my paid lunch order but decided to give me a Jamon sandwich and said he would come after me if he could not find the order. I decided to look for it myself in the kitchen and found it - he appologised and told the assistant off. Jacque also game me an old walking stick he had had around for several years. The leather strap was craked and it was a bit bent fut turned out to be very usefull until it got stolen in Burgos. Oviously someone needed it more than I did.

P1000476 Orisson to Roncesvalles - Overlooking our Tents
Orisson to Roncesvalles - Overlooking our Tents (were quite warm during the night and very comfy with large matresses and extra blankets). The first rays of sunlight greated us and it looked like a great clear day ahead of our treck through out the Pyrenees. We were excited!!!

P1000521
Orisson to Roncesvalles -Summit of Pic D'Orisson (1,060m) with Statue to the Virgin (Our Lady) and pilgrim's offerings surrounding her.

P1000527
Orisson to Roncesvalles - Summit flowers on Pic D'Orisson (1,060m)

S5000638
Orisson to Roncesvalles -Mountain Farm along the pyrenees hills.

S5000629 Pyrenees Lose Mountain Horses, many giving birth on this day.
Pyrenees Loose Mountain Horses, many giving birth on this day. It was a wonderful experience and well worth the effort to see the beautiful mountain horses.

S5000641 Pyenrees trail marker
Orisson to Roncesvalles - The forground shows a Cruceiro on wayside memeorial that leads up, ahead we can make out the trail leading through a narrow gap on thetop left hand corner leading to (Pic de Leizar Atheka and the Col de Bentarte).

S5000648 Visitors come to the Pyrenees pass to witness foal birthings
Orisson to Roncesvalles -Two more mares about to give birth. Visitors come to the Pyrenees pass to witness this birthing phenomenon each spring....by car.

S5000655 (Pic de Leizar Atheka Mountain Refuge).
Orisson to Roncesvalles - (Pic de Leizar Atheka Mountain Refuge). Found just 50m on right just pass the gap.

S5000676 Fountain of Roland.
Orisson to Roncesvalles -Border Crossing, Ron filling up at the Fountain of Roland. Where the battle of Roland was fought.

S5000678 Famous cattle grid.
Orisson to Roncesvalles -Border Crossing with cattle grid. One foot in France and the other in Spanish land.

S5000704 Vosque de Irate,
Beech woods leading steeply down to Roncesvalles. It is easy to see how in bad weather a person walking on their own could get easily lost. Some of the waymarks on the trees are a bit worn and difficult to see.

S5000709 Vosque de Irate
Vosque de Irate, beech woods leading steeply down to Roncesvalles.

S5000706 Vosque de Irate
Vosque de Irate,flowers

P1000534
Orisson to Roncesvalles - Vosque de Irate, beech woods forrests

Comments

[Mª Jesus]

Andarina incansable
Hola Bego, Soy amiga de Azu, estamos juntas en el club de senderismo, y ya me conoces. He visto tu blog y me parece estupenda tu descripción del Camino de Santiago. De vez en cuando entraré en el y así practicar la lectura en inglés. Besos

[nellpilgrim]

Flowers at Vosque de Irate
This is a lovely Blog and the pictures are very evocative. I walked the Camino Frances in April of 2009 so its great to see the Route Napoleon in sunshine as we had lots of snow! The purple 'Flowers' are actually the reproductive parts of a fungus that lives on the roots of beech trees and only pops its nose out (albeit a rather lovely purple one) to reproduce. I know this as I had come across them in the botanical gardens in Dublin and asked one of the horticulturalists about the 'strange looking flowers'. Thanks again for sharing your journey. I have a just finished my own blog of my Camino see 'Shell Shock-Nells Big Walk if you want to see pictures of a 'spring camino'..

[BegoniaD]

Hola, no se quien eres, pero tendras que aber caminado con migo. Por si acaso fue caminande el Camino Portugues??? Recuerdos de Begonia