Not the start I was hoping for. George has tried so hard to beat this bug but no such luck. He was up all night coughing, and started to get a fever. Needless to say I am opting for Plan B. George will hunker down for a couple of days, while I fly solo. Hopefully this will give him time to mend and give me some distance, so I don’t contract whatever nasty goop he’s got.

So after making final arrangements for George, sharing my ever-so-coveted Z-Pak Triple Antibiotics, I headed out on the Camino. No George in sight, just little ole me and the big sweet Lord. Here we go again.

The climb out of St. Jean is a booger. It’s like trial by fire, no breaking in easy, just up you go into the clouds. The day was pretty dismal with light scattered rain, low lying clouds but perfect hiking temperatures, just as I prefer. Most of the trail is an asphalt road which cars travel upon, but very few and far between. When a very big truck passes me, the driver slows enough, giving me a chance to take cover and move over to the grassy knoll. The sheep are blah-blah-blahing and the birds are chirp-chirp-chirping! It’s quite a lovely song that I listen to as I huff and puff up this ever-so-winding mountainside.

I met several people from many different countries. One couple from California who relocated to Costa Rica, or somewhere near there. They shared a banana with me as he said, it would lighten his pack. Others from the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Holland, Australia, Cuba as well as many more Europeans I just shared brief niceties and carried on. The walk was slow, wet and cold so I did little stopping, less talking and more gawking and oowing at the spectacular vistas in all directions.

Around lunchtime, I arrived at my destination, Refuge Orissons. It’s a bit of a culture per se, to stay the night here. Kind of like a rite of passage to state that you slept in this bunkhouse along the Camino. Once I took off my wet pack and rain jacket, I was allowed inside.

The place was alive with Pilgrims, some fortunate enough to score a bed, others only passing through. I researched a place to sleep many months ago. Based on the mere fact that May is a super busy time of the year, and there are seldom any walk-ins, I knew our Pilgrimage would start once I secured this reservation. Fortunately someone will be blessed with a walk-in tonight, being George’s bed is up for grabs, a top bunk! He is probably thrilled to pieces that he missed out on the climbing up and down all night, because I too, have a top bunk! No privileges for being a Senior Citizen around here! As I say, it’s only one night and I can manage one evening of sleeplessness.

I hightailed it to lunch and had my typical purée vegetable soup with some Sheep Cheese and Bread. Goodbye France and all your fine cuisine. Hello Spain! It’s all about Pork Chops and French Fries, from this day forward. No more Creme Brûlée or Froix Gras. Oh boy, oh boy, my heart is breaking already!

As I made my way inside the rustic dinner hall, I recognized many Pilgrims I’ve seen in SJPDP. We’re all headed the same direction and hard, not to run into each other, time and time again. For now soup it is and a warm shower. Then the unscheduled acrobatic show with me climbing into my very tall metal bunk bed. This is going to be an eventful evening. I will definitely need to refrain from large amounts of liquids, especially the alcoholic type.

After dinner there was the customary introduce yourself, tell where you’re from with a brief synopsis of why you’re doing the Camino, while speaking in a spoon as your makeshift microphone. This should be fun! The first guy from Germany jumped up and started telling his entire life story! Such a jokester. It was incredible hearing from everyone with all the diversity, the countless countries represented and different life stages we were going through. Honestly, the old folks won out. We outnumbered the youngsters 4:1. Yeah for Senior Citizens. No wonder I got a top bunk. We’re all is need of a bottom bunk! I held up a photo of George and introduced us as a couple. Everyone got a kick out of that. The night ended fairly early as the Crew needed to cleanup and get ready for an early breakfast. All Pilgrims were in bed with lights off by 9pm. Well it helped that I was on the top bunk, in control of the light switch and deemed it time to turn it off. Good night Pikgrims!

As I get ready to finish this first day, I am saddened that my George is not with me. He worked so hard to prepare for this journey and I know how disappointed he is. Please, all my Prayer Warriors, pray for George to be healed from this sickness, for his strength to be restored so that he can begin what he has come here to do. Much love to you all that follow my blog and I so do appreciate your continued faithfulness in our journey. Godspeed.