The start of Day 4 was a joyous one. There was a briskness to the air that felt invigorated me as we left the stuffy hostel room. However, when travelling with friends it seems that you never get to move as fast as you would like. We took our time grabbing a breakfast of pain au chocolats and espresso at a cafe, and doubling back to resupply at the grocery store.
My feet were killing me, and I was lucky that the Spaniards I met found me some talcum powder. I distinctly remember throwing some on my feet just before departing town while in the cool shadow of this massive church.
So we took off, Julia and I distinctly slower than the other two with our full packs of camping gear. I had a bit of a faster pace going, so I powered ahead for the big climb of the day. As always, the shade was appreciated when I got it, and I remember how this forest was very cool to be within. It had this unique feel that you just don’t get in Ontario.
I made sure to really take my time at the first water stop. And I’m lucky that I did, becasue the next water source for this day was bone dry! This was concerning after my experience the previous day, but I had taken my time to hydrate and top up before I left the last one. Only several kilometers of hiking with no shade on ridges to come 🙂
And as I broke through the forest onto those exposed ridges, I was in awe of the sweeping landscape around me. I was completely exposed and at the mercy of the sun as I looked around, trying to take everything in. Looking backwards, I could see the big mountain just outside of Irun, adn looking forwards there were rolling hills, forests, and a near straight line of dirt path to walk along the fenceline that held back a few horses.
The walk from there was hot but easy, and I made good time to reach the next water source at a hunting lodge, where I camped for the night. I ate an orange, relaxed, and read my books while waiting for Julia to arrive. Eventually both she, and a german guy named Matti I met the day before, made it to the little hunting lodge and we socialized and ate dinner before trying to wash up from the tap and get to sleep. The big event for me this night was to pop my blisters on my pinky toe, which went pretty well! It was my first time doing so, and I heated up a sewing needle and gave it a good poke.
