up 6.30.
breakfast and oot by 7.
stopped at bakers for a lot of bread and crossaints!
first 8 km a real killer. IT IS all uphill. Alan sets a fast pace. Simon dawdles behind. After 8 km Simon still dawdling but ahead! Seriouly if it wasn´t cloudly and kinda chilly this would have killed us! anyway remarkably we are an hour plus ahead of our schedule. Maybe we could do this……
In fact after stopping for more food and hot chocolate we positively wiz up the hill. We reach summit aroung two hours later and stare through the clouds at the beautiful view.
Now downhill. well almost…….
Al´s knees playing up so i give him my walking stick. We make Roncevalles in a total of 7 hours!! 3 hours less than we thought.
Found nearest pub. not hard only 2 in town. Al eats and drinks. Si drinks and smokes. (smoking rule is none til days walking is finished). When walking Si eats!! We book the ´Pilgrims meal´ for 7pm. 8 euros each.
At 4pm we get ´passport´stamped and given room (along with 100 others!) in church refuge. To be fair it aint bad and we both get bottom bunks. Place has got internet access, but no photo download facilities, showers and you each get a pillow!
Shower, sort out stuff then go to other bar. Meet Eileen, the Irish girl we shared a cab with from Biarritz and Dora, a german girl we passed on the climb today.
Have beers. Go to first bar for food at 7.
Soup, grilled fish (with head n tail) and chips and for pudding its natural yogurt. Oh they also give you a bottle of wine for the table (4 on each). How civilised.
After food Eileen, this other woman Linda and me go to the ´Pilgrims Mass´. Al declines on religious grounds – they might convert him again.
The abbey where mass is, is a beautiful building.
Just before the head abbot (or whatever his correct title is starts) Al appears! Catholic guilt or what!
As its all in Spanish it dont mean a lot to me but I was impressed whn one of the Abbots sidekicks gave the ´Pilgrim blessing´ in ten different languages representing all those people staying at the refuge that night.
Al and I went for more beer after in 2nd bar.
9.30pm, back to refuge and into bed. Lights out at 10pm.
Despite the snoring I got a pretty good nights kip.
Day 1 of walking done. Would i be able to get out of bed the next morning?……. you´ll have to read tomorrows exciting episode!
Adois
500 miles walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela 
a truly fine start gents!! sounds like the whistles haven’t been required yet which is always a good sign!!
Alright lads, hope the energy levels and your spirits are soaring high. Seeing that hill/mountain must have given you the same sinking feeling as when you walk into the TBS every other week to find that Niall has added another 10p on to a pint!! Talking of which, have you sent him the link to the justgiving page? he’s bound to want to get rid of some of his profits this year!! Hope you have factored in some much needed time off tomorrow night to watch the mighty Scots taking on the French. The good news is; none of them cheating Hearts rodents play for France! Hope the knee is holding up Mr Mcewan, ice it at every possible opportunity. Inflammation and a build up of lactic acid would be a show stopper in that weather!!! good luck men and i’ll see you soon
I dont understand the hierogliphics above the comment box and there is no spell check so you will have to live with my enduring inability to spell. Simon didn’t you take a sun hat and what about your health insurance or was that something else you left to Al? You are leaving a lot of questions unanswered. Is you leg medication just some savlon sort of stuff or an antibiotic administered by some monk?
I really can’t understand the thing about the track suit bottoms. You are ment to put them on before you put your boots on and why are you not wearing shorts, long socks and gaiters to stop the snakes biting?
What are the washing facilities like in these dorms (do you have communal baths) and when will you wash your socks and other unmentionables?
What happens if all the people staying in the big dorm all arrive at the next stop and it is a small dorm?
Do some of you have to sleep in the porch or something?
I am going to donate £20 for every week you stay there. We are off on our own hollidays on Friday but will try to get into an occasional internet cafe to check on your progress. Blackberries and the like are beyond me.
Look after yourselves, Hitler
I see you have had a response from ‘Hitler” – using a 20.00 a week bribe instead of the usual big stick (or whip!) – mind you that will come later if you are lagging in the last few furlongs.
For me – I am just delighted that you have got off to a really good start given that your sleeping arrangements are obviously unpredictable. Now what about the walking? Is there any going on? Whats the weather like? (OK it sunny, I know!) Are there lots of people crushing along this tiny footpath – just like going to Hibs matches maybe?
What about photos – are you able to send any via the blackberry to the blog? Have you seen any wildlife – you know the kind I mean – I saw a bear when we were driving thro the Picos.
The refuge food dosen’t sound too bad – bit worried about Si eating the fish head though – doesn’t he know these are saved to make the soup next day! I also hope its Rioja and not Ribena thats causing the cosmetic blushing. Keep the info coming – its really v. interesting and enjoyable – Gordo.