Today I started walking at 7:30 am, certain that with each step I was getting closer to my destination. My heart raced along with my joy. I was living what had once been a dream, I was carrying out a meticulously prepared plan. I don't know if I was going too fast, but I felt like everything was in slow motion. A great sense of well-being and enormous gratitude to everyone who helped me get to this point grew inside me. I remembered many people who helped me, some of whom I don't even know personally, as people here on this and other forums contributed with their messages. My friends and family members who always encouraged me, sometimes supporting me and sometimes doubting me. Whenever I do any physical activity, whether it's training, a race, a race or a walk, the first two kilometers are the most memorable. After this phase, I find a balance in my breathing and rhythm, and I do the rest more comfortably. I divided this stretch into 10 stages, divided according to the terrain's slope. For each stage, I determined a running speed and an average speed. It was a complete waste of time, the path was under my feet and I didn't care how steep it was, it was up to me to walk.
The sun was rising and the view was a spectacle of nature, very beautiful.
Further ahead, suddenly, an area with low clouds and visibility of no more than 30 m, I could hear the cattle bell, but I couldn't see it, what a shame. These clouds would go down as I gained altitude, and another spectacle of nature was present. I remembered a movie called "Las Nuvens".
As many people here on the forum have warned me, the weather changes very quickly. When I arrived in Orion, I stopped to fill my bottle and took off my warm clothes, and continued wearing a t-shirt. I couldn't stay in just a t-shirt for long, as the wind got strong, quite humbly. I wonder if Vivalde walked through here when he was inspired to write the 4 Seasons?
When I passed by the Food Truck, I asked what the opening hours were, as I had a question about this station. It's open until 1:00 p.m.
I am very urban, I was born and raised in a big city. I love animals, but I was very afraid of cows, horses... On the way there were some cows and I was terrified, I didn't know where to go. I thought, do cows kick? I decided to walk in front of the friendliest one, and she was very kind. I took a selfie with her.
Along the way, many pilgrims asked me to slow down. It was funny, it's rare when we are different from the majority, they look at us like strangers. Today I don't care about this, and I understand that people only want the best for us.
The last 5 km, on the way down, the terrain was terrible, very slippery, very unstable, I couldn't establish a pace, I walked slower than on the way up. This was a surprise.
I arrived in Roncesvalles in one piece, just a little dirty with mud, but right at the entrance to the hostel, there is a brush and a tap, which can help improve the situation.
I had planned to make the trip in 4:30h, but I made it in 4:43h. The important thing is to arrive in one piece!
I had to wait for the hostel to open. Check-in is at 13:00h and the rooms are available at 14:00h.
Now all that's left is to get to Santiago de Compostela!
I don't know if it's possible, but I would really like to offer my joy to you.
May God's blessing illuminate you!