valcarlos to roncevaux, 20,000 stepometer

Today only the second days walk started off on the road then led onto a mountain path that lead next to a river crystal clear.huge ancient beech and chestnut trees all around and chestnuts all under foot.eventually after many hours and heading into a cold wind the ridge was reached in knee deep.leaves giving a strange sense of solitude but huge sense of achievement.
it was raining and strong wild at the top so I didn't hang around too long.
the strange huge gothic monstrosity of the monastery at roncevaux felt very safe and solid and I slept well that night.