Day 2 - the journey to zubiri

33,500 footsteps. Thanks to my day sponsors and to those who sposnsored a special 5000 steps. Thanks Chella for the special prayers going down hill - I needed them. I though that with your prayers angels might come and lift me up lest I strike a foot against a stone, but it was not to be.

But first, last night... After I finished sorting out the blog, I spent some time speaking with an Irish fellow who had stayed in the same place as me in St Jean Pied de Port. I joined him and his mate for a pre-dinner beverage and then together we ate the pilgrim meal with a young fellow from Wales with the name of Robbie WIlliams. He claims his mother did not name him after the real Robbie Williams - I disagree.  The 10 euro pilgrim meal of soup, pork with fries, and a yoghurt was very satisfying. 

After dinner, I went to the monastery chapel for the pilgrim Mass. I was more than a bit lost because it was all in spanish (and spoken not very clearly) and he was celebrating the Friday feast day. The old priest spoke an awful lot. I'm not sure if he was really hitting the spot with the crowd who spoke little or no spanish. Luckily, before leaving Australia I did up a small a5 sheet with the mass resonses on it and laminated it. This came in very helpful. The parts of the Mass were in latin - which I remember from seminary. And, after a pilgrims' blessing in about eight different languages, we sang the salve regina. One woman, who must be tone deaf, was incredibly impressed with my chanting of the salve and we had quite a conversation.

Needless to say, I fell asleep almost immediately,

I awoke well before lights on at 6am. This allowed me to get most of my stuff quitely together. I left the monastery at abut 6.30am.

Thankfully, contrary to weather predictions, the day has been glorious. The first trhee kms were a walk through the witches forest where in the 16th century covens of witches were reputed to meet. I had a very quick stop for breakfast, bought an apple, and then went on my way.

A lot of the walking was very hard going. I thought that I had finished with the uphill yesterday, but there were very many steep hills to climb and an almost final section that was 3 kms almost all uphill. 

The downhill was even worse - very stony ground and so bruising on my feet. Thankfully, it was not wet. Nevertheless, it was slow going as I did not want to injure myself.

I have become quite an expert on the use of trekking poles. I watched a youtube video in the hotel in France and tried it in the room and it was a disaster. But, it seems to have come naturally on the road. I use the poles for extra leverage all the way uphill and for stability as I head downward. hostel will soon be open. So, hasta el luego!

Lunch is finished and my