All you need to know is that it rained. And rained. 146 litres per metre square, says the local paper. I make that near enough 6″ of rain in old money. And most of it fell on me, I am quite convinced.
I gather that the storm had a name (‘Mary’?) and made the international news.
We left Zubiri bright and early
We don’t get too far before the rain starts. Around Illaritz it really starts poring down. We put on our rain gear, and our backpack covers and keep going. We get to a cafe in Zuriain and hunker down to wait it out. Then this happens…
This is inside the cafe. Water is pouring over every surface, including those with electric outlets. Some British wit makes a comment about needing to report this to health and safety.
Throughout all this the staff are supremely indifferent and get on with the important business of making excellent zucchini and spinach tortilla.
We arrive in Arre where we had booked into the ancient 12th century albergue. We get there at 12:30 and find it doesn’t open until 3pm. We are soaked and cold. So, we carry on a few hundred yards and find another albergue that will let us have a private room for the four of us for 25EUR each. We gladly take it. We get out of the wet stuff and the others are kind enough to let me shower first. I put my clean clothes on the floor, just outside the shower, and don’t notice until too late that the shower drain was backing up and flooding out the door. So, now my clean clothes were soaked, too. I cobbled together enough clothing to be decent in public and asked the hospitaleros for advice. A splendid chap showed up with drain cleaners, mops and all sortsof things and within 10 mins all was well.
We were knackered…
Soon the dreaded ‘full’ sign went up on the albergue door.
We dry out, but our clothes require more. We find a laundrette and wash and, more importantly, dry all our stuff.
I venture out into the evening and find yet more evidence of Spanish local spirit.
There’s some kind of music festival on. All afternoon kids had been shouting and squealing outside the albergue. Lots of food and wine was being consumed at communal tables. And now we have a music event.
A good end to a wet day.
Day 3: Stats
Zubiri to Arre
- Steps: 30,965
- Distance covered: 24.1 km
- Apple Watch stats
- 67 ‘Flights Climbed’