Day 2-3: Carry Me!

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"Noni Carry Me!"

April 2: Orrison to Roncesvalles

Over the mountain and through the woods to... well we certainly are not on our way to Grandmother's house... (I am just thinking about my Grandmother because I titled this blog for her). Yesterday and todays hike, which many people do in one full swoop, have been said to be the most challenging day(s) on the Camino. From St Jean to Orrison I walked straight up up up up up for 8km, and then today we hiked over the Pyrenees Mountains. It was unlike anything I have ever done or seen before in my entire life. It felt like a dream...



Journal Entry--------------------

Monday April 2nd, 2012

My whole body hurts so bad! Evidently yesterday and today are the hardest days. As hard as today was, it was equally amazing. We woke up and ate breakfast around 0715. We took our time and started walking at about 0800. Today I walked with Molly, Ainhoa, and Tina.

There are no words for how beautiful every single view was. I had to keep pinching myself because I just cannot believe that I am doing this! For a while I was discouraged because so many people passed by us. The four of us were never too far away from each other and I was so happy for the company.

The landscapes were like rewards. After every huge hill was a magnificant view. I kept thinking in my mind how I wish Lee could see this. He would love it. It would be impossible for someone not to love this! The other thought that I kept thinking was... NONI CARRY ME! (When I was younger my grandmother would always take my sisters and I hiking. I would always stop and cry for her to carry me because I would be too tired to walk. It became a running joke and still today when I am tired I say to myself, "Noni, carry me!")

I think my pack is too heavy. I was almost tempted to send my pack ahead with a service that provides transportation for packs. I didn't though because I felt like that was cheating. Plus, I am so proud of myself for carrying it this far and know I will be so proud of myself for carrying it the whole way.

Today we walked just over 10 miles, although it seemed so much longer. We left at 0800 and arrived at 1500 so it took us nearly 7 hours. I have to remember that this is not a race. It is okay to be slow and take my time. I suppose I just didn't think that I would be this slow. Molly, 61yrs and Hieu, 63yrs, put me to shame with their energy and fast pace.

I was just about to collapse before we realized that we had made it to Roncesvalles. What a great feeling that was. We checked into the same albergue that I had stayed in the night before I made my way to St Jean. I unpacked, showered, did wash and then took a nap. We had stopped and reserved a place to eat a pilgrim meal together. It was good! I guess anything is good when you are close to starving...

I got tricked into going to a Catholic mass after dinner. We went for the pilgrim blessing in the cathedral and it turned out to be a full on mass! My legs already hurt so bad from walking and I was getting quite tired of all this up down business. Thank God I'm not Catholic! Pun intended.

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Seeing how I was not in the best of shape when I started the Camino, these first two days really kicked my butt. Not only was I hiking for hours and hours on end, but I had never had to carry a pack before. When you first start out on a journey like this, never having carried a pack before, you are constantly aware of the extra weight on your back.

I was so happy that I had my walking poles. Not only are they good for balance but when you are really tired they are good for an extra push off when going up hills. Not to mention when coming downhill they take away a lot of the shock that would otherwise be hitting your knees and ankles. They did take a little while to get used to walking with as I had never walked with walking poles before, but once you get in the swing of it you forget they are in your hands.

I was very thankful to have people to walk with while going over the Pyrenees. Many people skip going over the mountains and start the Camino in Roncesvalles. I must admit it was a little intimidating, but it is something that I believe cannot be missed! Along the way there were crosses from other pilgrims that had passed away while going over the Pyrenees. The weather can change quickly and leave you stranded on the top with no shelter. I have heard horror stories of a storm coming in and people not being able to see a foot in front of them. This is quite a scary thought as there are steep declines that would leave you falling off the side of a mountain if you miss a single step. We were really lucky to have such beautiful weather while making our crossing.

Arriving in Roncesvalles I felt exhausted, but extremely proud of myself. It is an amazing feeling doing something that you had doubt in your mind about being able to do. Plus, it really helps being surrounded by people who are encouraging and supportive. Walking with someone for one day on the Camino is equal to a friendship of one year. It is amazing how close you become with people after walking with them for only a few days.

Once we arrived in Roncesvalles we knew that there would be a little mass in the cathedral for blessing the pilgrims. Molly convinced me to go saying, "it's just a little blessing..." Well it did in fact turn out to be a full blown mass... I had gotten tricked into going to mass and on the Camino it certainly would not be the last time I was tricked... It is hard enough for me to understand what is going on during a Catholic mass that is in English, but being that it was in Spanish I was even more lost! I kept looking over at Molly and she just shrugged at me as if to say, "woops..."

Today is one of those days that I will reply over and over again and again in my mind to commit it to my memory. I knew that after I finished walking the Camino that I would look back on this day and want to remember every single second of it. It was simply amazing.




April 3: Roncesvalles to Zubiri

Rain rain go away come again... oh wait no please don't. It may seem like nothing walking in a little rain, but when you have to do it all day long, knowing that there is no where to take shelter, it kindof stinks a little. But truthfully, after five minutes of thinking it stinks, you get over it and forget that it is even raining because you just go back to being excited that you are on this amazing journey.

It was a little bit like groundhog day today waking up in Roncesvalles since I had just woken up in this same albergue just a couple of nights before. But it was different because this time I was walking!




Journal Entry--------------------

Tuesday April 3rd, 2012

When I woke up it was already raining outside. A couple of us stayed inside and ate breakfast to wait for daylight before starting to walk. It can be quite intimidating to start walking when it is still dark outside for fear of missing the markers telling you which way to go.

We started walking and after about 40min we arrived back in Roncesvalles! We somehow had managed to do a circle. Evidently you do not have to be walking in the dark to miss the markers...

I walked with Molly, Ainhoa, and Trinie. Tina had stayed in a different hostel and told us not to wait for her in the morning because if it was raining she may not walk and just take a rest day. Of course I was the slowest and so my friends would walk ahead and then stop and wait for me. Half way through the day I really hurt my ankle and knee. I cried it hurt so bad.

When we finally reached the albergue in Zubiri it was 1530. I checked in and as usual took a nap. Hey what can I say, I am in Spain after all. My ankle was really bruised and swollen. After my nap, it was time for dinner. I had another lovely pilgrim dinner.

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My journal entry for today was quite short as I was in a lot of pain by the end of the day when I sit down to write. I didn't know it then, but I would become quite used to being in pain on the Camino. It becomes part of the daily routine...

Despite of the rain and the pain, I actually remember this day quite well. One thing I remember thinking over and over again was, "Damn these boots!" My hiking boots and I were not getting along very well at the time. Footwear is very important...

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Comments

[Walking Woman]

Hey!!!! Diane and I stayed in those very bunks on the right...... :-)

[Walking Woman]

Fabulous pic, really lovely !