4/23-A Walk in the Clouds

I slept very well...which means I probably snored my little life away in front of all of those polite South Koreans (I didn't ask...).  The lights went on at 6 and I was one of the last ones out of my bed.  Orisson does a very nice job with both their accommodations and meals...very organized...very streamlined.  Breakfast was a small affair...just toast with jam and coffee, but it was enough.

It was almost 7:30 when I headed up (up seemed to be the word of the day) but it seemed about the same as Dog Mountain to me.  Near Leopold Pass, the winds were pretty strong...I would guess around 35 mph.  If you had taken video of me from behind, I would have looked like a drunken sailor, trying to walk in a straight line, but not succeeding.  The views were incredible, though.

I remembered some of the landmarks from video journals I had watched, and before long...I was at Roncesvalles.  Wait...what?  It was only 12:30.  I am trying to slow things down, take my time, stop to appreciate...and take care of my feet by taking my shoes and socks off.  But seriously, when it's raining and the wind is blowing, you just want to put your head down and knock it out.  The Albergue in Roncesvalles didn't open to Peregrinos until 2 pm so I had plenty of time to relax before checking in.

The South Korean names are hard for me to remember...so I had a couple of gals repeat their names...twice...and spell them for me so I could phonetically make a note of it.  Junesaw got to Roncesvalles shortly after I did and came over to hand me a 4-leaf clover she had found.  She knew that it meant "good luck" and I have it laying flat between a booklet, happily drying.  I also met a young Canadian from Ottawa named Jenna, who worked overtime and weekends for 3 months so that she could afford to walk the Camino.  And, add Elizabeth and Steve from New Mexico...avid hikers.

The Albergue here is run by volunteers called Hospitaleros.  They are friendly, welcoming, and run a very tight ship.  Tonight there will be a Pilgrim meal and then a Pilgrim Mass.