DAY 9. June 6th. OCHAGAVIA TO ISABA

Tea break in a refuge on the way.

Rain, rain, rain until about 2pm.  Boring pista lined with pine trees all morning. When we get a view we get carried away and miss the turning to Isaba, adding about 2 hours onto the day and leading astray 2 men from Galicia who are also doing the same section…..sorry! Heavy, muddy descent to Isaba, bad right knee. Isaba nice, pretty and alive. Pension Txiki friendly and has bar and food. Tiny room for 3 with broken shower door and holder for shower-head but beds are good and the water hot. They also listen to Radio 3 in the bar. Had posh dinner in Hostal Lola next door (€80) which was good, especially the puddings and wine and lack of smoking. Noisy and full of men.

DAY 10. June 7th. ISABA TO ZURIZA

Easy 5 hours. Sunny morning, sore feet and tired. Decide to take easy route to Zuriza. Visit Isaba, make reservations, shop. Leave in sun but soon turns to rain and cold. Tired and grumpy. Colin decides to take the high, hard route so we give him the map and phone. Vultures, dead wild boar, cross river by taking off our boots and socks….freezing. Woods again and no energy but once we get to the border of Aragon it gets spectacular as we see our first high peaks. Camp-site in great setting with nice bar but albergue full and temperature drops below zero. Colin arrives soon after as he turned back and took easy route like us. Very happy to see him – it was strange and disconcerting to be separate. Good, hot dinner, unlike the shower. Colin eats wild boar and Sandy and him have migas de pastor….yuck! Cold, cold, cold in the tent despite wearing all my clothes and wrapping up in newspaper....those Ferrino sleeping bags are TERRIBLE. Ice on the tent in the morning. Manage to sleep a bit, Sandy doesn’t.