I slept… Not well, but I slept. Movement from one of the other rooms woke me at just after 6am. I got up, carried out my morning duties and made my way downstairs for just gone 7am. The landlady made me a coffee, whilst I decided to wait for Marcus to walk with today. He appeared ten minutes later and sat for breakfast. The coffee was enough for me. It was almost night outside, black clouds for as far as we could see, with rain. It was just after 8am by the time we were kitted out in our ponchos, covering the rucksacks as well so we both looked like Quasimodo!
The morning climb out of Aire-sur-l’Adour was grey and wet but it made a refreshing change from the boiling sun we’ve become used too. Our pace was quick but we still took in our surroundings, stopping in the churches along the way, taking the odd picture of black clouds looming overhead. At one point there is a tremendous downpour, and everyone seems glad to be wearing ponchos and waterproofs!
Halfway and we stop for a coffee, we’ve passed many of our fellow pilgrims but there are still more up ahead. We should stay here as reports are Arzacq is full?! But it’s only just twelve midday so we decide to continue. The new plan is get to Pimbo and see if they have anything. It’s only 5.5km to Arzacq, which means we’ll have walked a respectful 28km(ish).
The two places in Pimbo are closed or not taking anyone… Oh my feet hurt. Come to think of it so do my legs…
We have no choice but to continue on. During today’s conversations Marcus tells me he’s decided to walk the Nord route rather than the actual Camino Frances across Spain. Basically it follows the coastline rather than an inland route. Supposedly prettier but with more hills and less refuges to sleep… I’m sticking to my Camino, it’s what I’m here for, although I joke about walking back along the coast route… I make a mental note to myself that I’ll need new boots by the time I get to Pamplona. I need wifi to see if Spain sell Hitec Magnum classics in size 44. If not I’ll need to get some shipped out.
My foot is still swollen but as long as I give it some rest it seems ok, the swelling has gone down…
Ok back to the day, sorry I’m getting sidetracked… I dragged myself the final distance to Arzacq-Arrazjguet, a total today of roughly 34km. Oh my poor poor feet! And it would be just over a hill wouldn’t it! We arrive at the tourist information at 4.00pm, I joke about it being closed, nooooooooooooo….. Ah wrong shop front…phew.
The lovely lovely lovely lady finds us a room. Why is everywhere so friggin busy. I can understand Nogaro as the had a big race but Aire-sur-l’Adour and here… Why???
So the good news is we have a room, the bad news, one bed, Marcus offers to use his sleeping mat and bag and take the floor. I guess I should pay more than him?!!
It’s now half six, there are lots of familiar faces around. Everyone has freshened up. Finally blue sky appears and the sun breaks through.