Adios Espana….Bonsoir Francia !!

I must admit to having  a nice lie in on Saturday morning – I had had a couple of long days beforehand, and it was nice and quiet where I was…. however , needs must… should I go for a ride back down the canyon…or get travelling North again ?

I decided on the latter , and late morning headed off, through Spain, not sure on where I’d end up today… firstly into the ancient city of Soria – it may have been ancient, but it was really busy, I’m not sure what was going on, whether a race of some sort, but traffic cones were everywhere, and directions chaotic…I did stop briefly at an old monastery, where there was an interesting rock sculpture, and I decided to push on, towards wherever…. by late afternoon I was travelling into the outskirts of Pamplona, I had gone through it quickly last year on the Camino… and today, wasn’t vastly different, although I did stop for some shopping at a huge Hypermarket, and treated to myself to some Sushi… and cakes !! Lovely…filled up and ready to continue, I drove through the madhouse of Pamplona centre, and was then picking up signs for ‘Francia’… there we go, time to get over the border, although it was a lot further than I expected, and not without being welcomed with a dense mountain mist…and already felt colder !

I’d decided to go to a campsite I’d stayed at before in Socoa, up on the cliffs above the Ocean, and I thought I’d best have a couple of showers before …. I met the family ! So, late evening I arrived at campsite Jacinta, and quickly got myself organised,showered….and in bed !

Sunday morning I was up early, to walk down into Socoa village for the 9 a.m. Mass – which I knew would be in a combination of French/Spanish…but largely Basque !  There was still mist on the Pyrenees as I went into church, however as I emerged an hour or so later, it had burnt off, and lovely hot sunshine was my reward… as well as a nice mass with Priest leading the singing in strong Basque Hymns !

Back to the campsite for… a bit of a lazy day, actually !

I did some washing, so I was all clean, watched it dry, and eventually wandered out on to the cliffs to watch the sun go down… as usual the sun disappeared into a sea mist, but what there was of the sunset was nice…. and now I was ready to meet someone….but who ?