Sleeping in a Albergue-Refugio wasn’t all bad. I woke up this morning at 6am, just as the birds started chirping. There’s a nest just outside my room with several baby birds and they were hungry. For that matter, so am I. There were other Pilgrims quietly on their phones, checking out the days agenda. I slithered down my bunk metal ladder as quietly and tried not to sound like an elephant! It worked fairly well. Using both rungs from my bunk and the one next to me was rather brilliant, if I say so myself.

Once dressed and packed, I headed to the Mess Hall. It was the typical fare, coffee or hot chocolate with bread, butter and jam and maybe a bowl of corn flakes. I haven’t had Corn Flakes for years so I indulged. The milk comes in a non-refrigerated carton so room temperature milk. Hmm, not sure about that but beggars can be choosers! I ate with glee and headed back to retrieve my final belongings, power cord and battery bank and I was off like a High-Speed Turtle.

The morning was a mixture of low clouds and cold mist. Typical mountain making its own weather. I had been talking with a friend Dee Bright who walked the Camino a few years ago. She sent me a picture of leaving Orisson’s which completely matched my encounter. Cold, drizzly and damp!

One of the Piligrinos I sat with at the table and shared the Bunkhouse, left at the same time. He’s from Taiwan, married with two children. His wife has some medical conditions that keep her from hiking, but she gave him the blessing to walk this Camino. This was a dream of his since watching “The Way” with Martin Sheen. What an inspirational movie that was as so many spoke of it last night! He plans to walk the same distances as George and I so we will be finishing together. He could be a good hiking partner for George as I’m sure they will have much to talk about.

I spotted a Food Van parked on the side of the road. This Frenchmen was one smart guy as every single Pilgrim stopped to have coffee, hot chocolate or tea along with various of other snacks, fruits and treats. What a welcome sight he was. We all had our drinks and snacks, then carried on.

There were so many of us on the trail this morning and never ran out of people to talk with. I stopped at the local watering hole and ran into Mark from the Carolina’s with his friends from Pennsylvania and my buddy who I met yesterday, Joanne from Germany. We yakked about the Camino and where we would stop tonight. They all planned to go to the Monastery in Roncesvalles, as I plan to walk another 3-4 miles further. It ends up that we have much in common. Mark is a Christian whose wife passed away three years ago. They had talked about walking this Camino together but never had the opportunity. Mark walks every morning on the Mountain to Sea Trail which backs up to his yard, and has his God time. I had shared my reason for the Camino and before long, we were sharing our love for the Lord. Isn’t it beautiful how our wondrous Jesus opens doors for meaningful conversations. We walked for quite a bit of time, sharing our devotions and thoughts. Thank you Lord for opening doors.

All the way up the mountain it was gloomy, cold and cloudy. Yet as I was a few hundred feet from the summit, the skies parted and the sun illuminated over the path. I looked at Joanne mesmerized at how we were so blessed with sunshine at the summit!

Once we started downhill, we all split up in our downhill strides. The younger knees were bouncing down the trail as us more conservative Pilgrims were taking our sweet time. I was pretty much paired up with my East Coast Clan. We walked through a lot of mud and muck and was reminiscing of the Appalachian Trail. Mud, muck and rocks with the green tunnel above. It was so much the same as last year and made me realize how we really are so connected. Whether I am on US soil or European, we all have the same God who created the same space that we all walk upon! It is so interwoven and oh so beautiful.

I bided farewell to my Camino Clan and hightailed it to see George. Through the woods, rural roads and farming communities, I made my way to my man. He had taken a taxi, all checked in and is awaiting my arrival. I finally showed up in the afternoon and he was ready with a beer in hand. It was much needed drink after my long distant hike over the Pyrenees. That sounds like a big deal, and honestly it was! My knees felt it, I was pooped and glad to get my pack off my back.

We reunited, walked the streets of Espinoza which isn’t much and I made my way back to the room for my much anticipated bath! Yep I have a glorious bathtub to soak in.

George and I wandered down the street and found a quaint little restaurant with a bar. We both partook in more beer and hung out with the local Prligrinos. We shared stories of crossing the mountain and what lies ahead. I think the worst of it is over and more flat and long, dusty trails lie ahead. That can be just as hard!

I am thrilled to be back with George, my hiking partner and best buddy on this earth. We had a very salty meal of flank steak and French fries, fish and potatoes and some drink called Ricardo. This was recommended by our fellow tourist, all the way from France. What a great evening we had and now, I’m ready for bed. But tonight, no bunk bed but a nice queen sized bed with my not-so-sick George! Such an incredible healing he has experienced.

We never know why things happen the way they do, but the Lord has plans and they are not always our plans. With that, George missed out on the climbing the Pyrenees which was something he trained for. It’s always a disappointment when things don’t go the way we hope for, but we also understand our hope is not in things, or places, mountains or valleys, but in the hope of our Lord! With that, we will persevere and finish what we started, to share God’s love the best way we can.