We took the bus and arrived in Pamplona on March 15 from Valladolid via Vittoria-Gastiez. Arrived at around 8:30 pm and began looking for the Pilgrim´s Albergue. We bought our bus tickets to Roncesvalles right away as we were at the bus station already. After asking around in the city of Pamplona, we found our Peregrino´s Alberge for $7 Euros per person. Very basic but comfortable. This is my very first experience with lodgings of this form. As we had arrived late, we tried our best to be quiet while getting ready for bed. No showers for this night as it was too late. I slept in the clothes I was wearing. It was quite cold but manageable. I did not want to sleep smelly in my sleeping bag so it stayed in my backpack. We got up early and started conversations with the people around us. Speaking with Don and Megan, a couple in their sixties from US, we found out that there was heavy snow in Roncesvalles and that it is very dangerous there. Deep snow and very cold. They also had originally wanted to start from there too. We decided not to start from Roncesvalles given the information. We will begin from Pamplona instead. We sold our Roncesvalles tickets for half price to a young couple who wanted to go Roncesvalles regardless of the information.

As it was our first days of the Camino. The going from Pamplona will be difficult due to the high elevation on some parts of the camino. This first day is around 17 kms, greater than what we originally intended. We poured intensely over our guidebook and decided that we will stop in Uterga for our first night. We do not want to overdo it for our first day. The backpack taxi is a great idea. Only $7 per bag but it will help us tremendously as we have a tough climb ahead of us.

And so we begin. There is snow on the route but not as bad as Roncevalles. Marybel is a faster walker than I am so she is always ahead of me. This works fine for me as it allowed me to be engrossed in my meditation walk in silence.

There was a strange incident on this trip. I walked over a small impasse with a small water lane going across my path. I heard a child´s voice speaking to me in Spanish but there was no one in sight. None. It was a girl´s voice asking me something but I have no understanding of what was said. Marybel was way ahead. The child laughed and cried but I could not locate the owner of the voice. I asked Marybel if she heard the voice as she passed the lane but she said no. Eerie but not threatening so I let it go. Perhaps a village child playing tricks on passing by pilgrims and hiding in the drain beneath the lane to scare them. There can be other theories for this such as past life coming in, etc. I cannot confirm anything so I will not dwell on this too much. This stretch is also where pilgrims are to ask for forgiveness for their sins. Perhaps, my sins from the past are coming up for cleansing…don´t know.

We arrived in Uterga, exhausted but glad to have finished this trek for the day. Albergue Camino Del Perdon. It was small and very comfortable. Beds were quite creaky but there were only five of us for the night. Craig Gill from Scotland and a Spanish couple, Plabo & Sonia. That was our Peregrino family on this first day.

Marybel and I shared a peregrino menu for dinner, lentil soup, beef stew and ice cream for dessert. Wine and water is always included with dinner.

What an amazing first day! Hard but fantastic views! I took some pictures but not many. All concentration was on making it safely on the route. I have a picture of me after falling in the mud which I can upload later. It was very slippery and muddy mostly. I hurt from the fall but nothing broken so all is well. Laundry for muddy clothes was required….LOL.

Super first day!