...the rain starts to get heavier and soon I am in the clouds/fog and can barley see my own feet. At km 14 I reach a hut which I great fully enter. The spartanic interior ( an old orange case sitting upside down in the corner of the 8 square meter inside) is not that welcoming, but I decide it's time for appricose, cranberries, nuts and water. 5 minutes later a group of 7 French man enter the hut. One of them spins around like a ballerina with his backpack and dirty pants hanging of his behind which he gracefully wipes through my face a couple of time. Time to move on I decide after my 7 minute break.
The way gets steeper and steeper. Why am I doing this? My legs start getting weaker - in fact it looks like I am going sick zack up the mountain. Then I finally reach the top Witze fountain of 'Roland'. Unfortunately it is monopolized by 2 German smokers. ' Enjoying the worldwide day of non smoking', I am thinking but not saying as I donT want to spread bad athmosphere. I decide to move on. What is with smokers that they immediately feel that smoking outside bothers nobody? And why do they think their cigarette filters are organic garbage and can be tossed wherever they want? Oh well, donT get me started about my favorite topic.
No time to spend with those thoughts as the decline starts 30 minutes later. It is realy steep. I remember my friend Barabara from high school instructing me last week ' When you climbing down take the right way', but I decided for the adventure - the left way. The forest way is filled with rubble, old leaves and huge little lakes of rainfall which slowly turn into a river going downhill. I should have listened to Barabara, but too late. What if I fall here? There is again absolutely nobody. I am sliding at least 6 times, but fortunately each time I am able to catch balance again. Falling on this rubble will be bad news for any butt. Even the 2 black and heavy set US ladies I saw yesterday in the starting village will feel this. But how will they get up the mountain ? Impossible!
After 4 km down the hill I look like a mud ringer. Dirt up to my waiste line. But I finally reach the monastery of Roncesvalles after a total trip of 6 hours. My fitband tells me that I walked 28 km and burned 4700 calories, so I decide to have a big lunch in the hostel bar. 3 cafe con laiche, 3 beers ( one with no alcohol), one multi vitamin and one orange juicy help me to replace the lost liquid on the extremely difficult trip.
After 2 hours in the bar the reception finally opens at 2 pm and I check in - what a nice surprise: I get a single room with an extra big bed - yeah.
Congrats :-)
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