Ascent: 1200m.
Descent: 800m.
A brutal first day in 40C heat and all of the water sources along the route dry. I went through 9 litres of water, 3 of which came from the kindness of fellow travellers and 3 of which I bought and gulped down once I got to Ibardin.
If I wasn’t intimidated by this task I’ve set myself before, I am now. I’ve given myself a day to recover from the pains I have in places where I didn’t even know I have places.
The Basque Country is beautiful. They are hardy folks and very friendly. The landscape is spectacular and there are fat little ponies that wear bells and long-horned cattle along the route.
