Volta da Iberia: Soy un Peregrino!

So the pilgrimage has officially begun, i took a train to Bayonne, and then to Saint Jean Pied de Port, and now i have biked about 300km from there. howver, from then till now i will upload some pictures and try to narrate, however time is scarse and i have to wash clothes, boil eggs, and take a shower all in about 25 minutes! so i left from st jean, and met a german man, 67 years old, Erich, whom i rode with for about 4 days from st jean to Pamplona, it was nice to travel with him and hear his stories, however once i got to Pamplona and the San Fermin festival to see the running of the bulls i had to leave him to make better time on the way to Santiago. the journey has been hard at times but always i am in the good company and somehow i always find a good meal, whether i cook it myself or i get it from a refuge, albergue, or hostal. Being a peregrino (pilgrim) is nice because people instantly recognize who you are and what you are doing, and generally respect you, and usually approach you for conversation, so i am never alone, always there is someone to speak with from another country, with another point of view. i have seen countlesss cathedrals, churches, monestaries, and the like, all the while taking pictures of each and every one that i encounter. Also i have seen many mountains, and struggled over each one! to date i have ridden over 5 mountains and over the cliffs of Costa Brava, and before reaching Santiago i will ride over two more passes, and i have no idea what i will encounter in Portugal. so far i have ridden on bicycle just short of 1000km and my legs are SO tired, each day gets a little rougher, but i will take a break maybe in Burgos, 2 days from now, as it is a beautiful city with much to see. For now i will just upload as many pictures as i can and narrate as best as possible. All is well, including myself, my bicycle, and my spirits.