I crossed Nive river's bridge and I continued to "Rue d'Espagne" leaving the town. Saint Jean seemed me more beautiful than in the past. At once I began to go up a steep slope of paved secondary road. I was surprised because I wasn't remembered that was so hard... But I wish walk.
I went alone,... but a great full moon was my company. An owl ululated nearby, and other, far, responded him as an echo.
Serene, I knew the stage,.., I had exercised the legs during three months, I had slept little but well. I computed that it would take me some six hours in arriving to Roncesvalles, I planned to ascend to my rhythm and without forcing. On the bridge In my mobile telephone it was six thirty and the day was begining, leaving the darkness of the night.
I was secure of going for Huntto,... my only worry was the fog that could be up, in this occasion I wanted to make the route with light ,... with sun. I had the absolute conviction that I would not get lost, I knew the road perfectly, the profile is easy and It is correctly signalled.
When I arrived to Huntto I had walked five kilometers and I made the first and small pause to eat and to drink something. I didn't want to pass the time. The ascent was very very hard after leaving Huntto.
I continued ascending and ascending, paved road and a very hard tract of way of earth. A French pilgrim surpassed me walking quick,... I always walk slowly.
..._ Bonyour
..._ Bon chemin.
Groups of boy scauts began to surpass me. They were much. I continued ascending to my rhythm until I arrived to the Orisson's albergue three kilometers later. There I stopped to take a coffee and I liked the place a lot. A very good place. It was a good place to spend the night and it wasn't expensive.
In the terrace I was in the glory, but I started at the little time. The road ascends and it ascends and it continues ascending with variable slope. Ahead the fog appeared,... I didn't worry about it, but neither made me grace,... the temperature was nice.
About three kilometers later, two french boy scauts was on the edge of the road frying beicon in a barbecue and making coffee in a "hornillo". They invited me to coffee... I´m a coffee hooligan.
_Merci vocu mamasuel...
_ Jajaja.
... I speak french bad,... and in english also,...jejeje,... sorry, I am a disaster.
The fog arrived strong from mi left, refreshing me and darkening the day in the moment that I passed near the virgin of Orisson that is to the left and I continued without go to visit her.
Of there you leave far the mount Urkulu, with a Roman tower in the summit, that it is most pretty than "the summit of the winds" of "The Lord of the Rings". in the prairies there were sheep, horses and cows.
Attention! I arrived to the famous turn right where it is necessary to leave the paved road and go walking for way with grass. In this point some pilgrims have made a mistake and they have continued right, I think that this it is the only place in all stage in which you can get lost, but it is indicated with yellow arrows in the floor.
Forthwith this the stone cross with their ugly decorations. It is dark, a dismal place for me and I don't like it... I have a very bad remember of that when I walked the stage in winter with snow and fog... I counted fifteen people there looking at the cross,... I continued ascending quickly to "Bentartea". "Txangoa" mount is there,... near. I arrived to a high one and I continued walking now without ascending more.... For the hillside.... The fog took off for magic power.
Finally, there was Roldan's fountain overflowing of pilgrims. I stopped to drink fresh water and to rest for some few minutes. Therre were groups of boy scauts, lonely walkin pilgrims, walkers and tourists,... and two nervous donkeys. A place with great scandal and I continued walking, I had beautiful forest to the right and beautiful forest to the left, an the way took me accrossing to the left, I ascendied a slope and arrived to magic "Lepoeder" (1.430 m). The ascend ended forever.
I caught the right road for the forest, there are four kilometres for magic and marvellous forest, the descent is hard but I descend slow and with atention. I think this forest is the most beautiful of all Camino de Santiago,... but with bad weather in winter is not recommendable
Finally. I appeared in the Roncesvalles's osario and I drank a beer in Sabina's bar... 25 km of stage hard but beautiful had ended... and Santiago war very far.
June, 2005
Bolitx.
P.D. This stage via called "Ruta de Napoleon" is not recommendable make it in winter if there is risk of fog or snow. I walked this stage in december of 2004 and I didn't see anything outside five meters distance.