Roncesvalles

Roncesvalles - Monday

We took a taxi from Pamplona to Roncesvalles, about 30 miles. The taxi took the same road that we will be cycling on tomorrow. Yikes!  It's narrow with switchbacks and steep ups and downs.

Upon arriving at Roncesvalles, our bikes were already at the hotel. We set them up and fitted them.

Then we sat out on the patio and met pilgrims who had hiked from Saint Jean Pied de port where most of the walkers start.

We stayed at the Hotel La Posada Roncesvalles and got our first pilgrim's stamp.

Dinner was pasta with chorizo and a fish with frites followed by flan.

After dinner over 200 pilgrims packed the monastery church for the blessing of the pilgrims Mass.

Then we packed up our panniers and went to bed.

Respect the Mountain

Our first day bicycling from Roncesvalles on the Camino de Santiago started with hairpin switchbacks with steep climbs and descents.

It took a few days before I realized that this sign means "switchbacks."

 

After loading up our bikes with panniers, handlebar bags, extra water and other luggage, it felt a bit wobbly to have so much extra weight on the bike. We headed towards Pamplona and the climbing started. Up, up, up 6 to 10 percent grade switchbacks. At the peak people had spray painted "Respect the Mountain," in Spanish of course, but no translation was needed. The warning was very much appreciated, and I rode conservatively down the mountain, braking hard to keep my luggage laden bike from going over the cliff or into the oncoming traffic coming up the mountain, showing the mountain all the respect I could.