Fingers Do the Walking ~ Day 44 ~ May 19, 2014

Day 44, May 20
0 miles, 514 total miles REST DAY #5
Altitude: 1,555 feet (daily high 1,624)
Weather: overcast 55-75F
Pamplona

Let your fingers do the walking and stay off your feet. The bulk of the day was spent blogging Over the Pyrenees.

With two days off, I welcomed a more private hostel. This place reminds me of a Japanese crash pad.

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Caterpillars Do It ~ Day 43 ~ May 19, 2014

Day 43, May 19
14 miles, 514 miles
Altitude: 1,555 feet (daily high 1,624)
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-85F
Pamplona

Caterpillars do it.
Pilgrims do it.
Move in one straight line.
One behind the other.
All the wrong way.

A dozen of us having the greatest conversation missed a turn and had to retrace our steps.
Call us Pilgrims?
Call us Lemmings?

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Hemingway Got it Wrong ~ Day 43 ~ May 19, 2014

Day 43, May 19
14 miles, 514 total miles
Altitude: 1,555 feet (daily high 1,624)
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-85F
Pamplona

In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises a young Spaniard is killed while running with the bulls. I had a conversation in Pamplona with a gentleman who told me it was his grandmother’s brother who knew Hemingway and who was killed during the running of the bulls. Alas he wasn’t running with the bulls; but, merely trying to cross the street from one wooden shield to another. Seeing that the street was clear of bulls, he started across the street. In a split second a renegade bull appeared and killed him. Literary license does make for a good story.

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Virginia??? ~ Day 42 ~ May 18, 2014

Day 42, May 18
14 miles, 500 miles
Altitude:
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-85F
Zubiri

The country side looks so much like the pine forests of Virginia. The smells are a mixture of pine and boxwood. Dust from gravel and stone stir under foot. Walking is done on an amazingly large percent of stone paths.

Though well signed, I am learning a new way of seeing the signs. In France my eyes zeroed onto the trail markers. Now I search.

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Over the Pyrenees ~ Stage 6B ~ Day 41 ~ May 17, 2014

Day 41, May 17
16 miles, 486 miles
Altitude: 3,116 feet
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-75F
Roncesvalles
FRIST DAY IN SPAIN

Col de Bentarte, 4,386 feet
Col Lepoeder, 4,724 feet
Roncesvalles, 3,034 feet
Descend 1,690 feet in 3.1 mile

What an introduction to Spain! Martin Sheen stayed here; however, not in the renovated wing.

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Over the Pyrenees ~ Stage 6A ~ Day 41 ~ May 17, 2014

Day 41, May 17
16 miles, 486 miles
Altitude: 3,116 feet
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-75F
Roncesvalles
FRIST DAY IN SPAIN

Col de Bentarte, 4,386 feet
Col Lepoeder, 4,724 feet
Roncesvalles, 3,034 feet
Descend 1,690 feet in 3.1 mile

Toe-jamming boot time.
I can smell the barn.
Feet fly.

Should all fail, the last shelter stands with wood waiting for a match and warmth. Call 112. This is a potentially life threatening place where crises are real.

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