An early start from Olite as we know we have uphill most of the day. Heading towards Pamplona then east into the foothills of the Pyrenees. Low down there are fields of young sunflower plants, then we gain height following the Erro river up into the mountains, squeezing in beside it in ravines as it becomes a fast flowing mountain stream. A very humid day. We cross the Santiago Pilgrims route where walkers with bandaged knees are following well signed paths, and then meet a few touring cyclists. We take a slightly different route from last time as the weather is so good, to do an extra pass, then whizz past the campsite where we overnighted in 2008, to take the final pass at 1100 m. On the last few kilometres up, we pass a touring cyclist who says his legs can't do any more, but we reassure him he is very nearly at the top. At the summit there is a tiny old Dutch lady cyclist (her description) who is also exhausted having come up the difficult way from France into a head wind. We reassure her that she only has a 1 km cycle downhill to find a good cafe which cheers her up and we take a photo for her on her phone to prove she made it. She tells us her husband died last year and they had toured lots including Cambodia. Two km down the other side are a couple. The lady managing to pedal at walking pace, hubby has given up and is walking.
We are in St Jean Pied de Port in their charming municipal campsite, near the town walls, putting up our tent by 4.00pm, 68 miles today, and across the Pyrenees.
The cyclist who said his legs had given up arrived a few hours later and celebrated with a cigarette! A walk around the top of the town walls finished the evening with very tired legs. There is a party of English walkers doing the Santiago way, who get up and slip away before dawn - dedication.
Miles to date:- 1619
Location:Olite to St Jean Pied de Port
