Day 1: St Jean Pied De Port to Auberge Borda | Camino Frances | Camino De Santiago | May-July 2022

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May 24, 2022

"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear"
Camino De Santiago Day 1: St Jean Pied De Port to Auberge Borda, Pyrenees Mountains, France
9 km (5.592 miles), 944 meters elevation gain
I have not been sleeping. Maybe 3 hours max each night. The anticipation of what is to come and the time change has really affected my rest.
We hiked up, up, up today. Did I mention we hiked up?
What started off as a muggy day turned into a light rain, then a downpour (more Camino hair magic), eventually requiring our fleece jackets (very happy we brought them!!)
We arrived at Orrison Refuge about 4 hours into our hike. Google search informs me that the average pellegrino typically takes a little over 2 hours. Yes, we are slow pellegrinos.. In our defense, we did stop at a cafe along the way, took several photos, and sat on the Pyrenees hillside enjoying French cheese we had purchased the previous day.
Orrison Refuge welcomed us with a hot bowl of vegetable soup and a ham and cheese bocadillo as well as the company of pellegrinos we had meet at our hostel the night previous. Much needed after my Pyrenees shower in the rain.
We continued about 1 km further to Auberge Borda, a newly renovated farmhouse. We thoroughly enjoyed warm showers, a private room, and another pilgrim's dinner with more hot vegetable soup, pork cutlets, a French quiche, and chocolate mousse with a Basque cookie. Andre and I helped with setting the table for our fellow pellegrinos from France, Croatia, England, Germany, and Ireland.
Once again, we shared why we were walking the Camino, and once again I did not video or photograph as it was not mine to share.
The Auberge had a male cat who evidently likes to catch and eat lizards. He also liked sitting on my lap.
Immediately after dinner, sleep beckoned. I'm hoping tonight to get more than 2-3 hours. I know eventually I will. If someone could send the sleep Gods my way, I'd be forever grateful. Tomorrow, we cross into Spain.
So until tomorrow then, jusqu'à demain!