Good luck or good management?

A 6:29 wake up after a really good sleep and straight to the kitchen in search of caffeine. So many appliances that could possibly offer up a coffee fix but I took some time to work out which one to use. I found the coffee pods, figured out where they went and away I went. I couldn't find the sugar, and coffee without sugar is sad, but with the timeshifter app currently ruling my life, I pressed on.

We had prepacked for the next 5 day walking adventure so all that was left to do was eat. Bread, pastries, juice, another coffee and  we were on the way to the station.

Our previous Europe trips on trains have taught us that an unreserved train means a dash for seats. We did well and had a good trip to a place starting with B (this is where the editor earns her money) (Bayonne - Ed.). The further we went, the darker it got and the bigger the raindrops grew. 

We changed trains at Bayonne onto what was a one carriage train trying to fit all the people with hiking gear, a few bikes and the weird guy opposite with his Esky.

On arrival at a place starting with one of the 23 letters of the alphabet (I'm positive it's not x, y or z) (Saint Jean Pied de Port - Ed.) we were greeted with heavy rain, and the small shed-like structure at the end of the platform was packed as rain attire was put on. There were more ponchos than an entire series of Funky Squad (I've really taken my cryptic comparison to new heights and expect nobody to understand the reference, assuming that someone is reading this).

All these years of watching the tour de France passing through the Pyrenees and seeing the wet and cold conditions and I've just come to the realisation that this is where I currently am.

That picture is a mountain with snow on it. Did I buy my new rain jacket and Gore-tex shoes out of sheer luck or did I know it would be like this?

We went out into the sunny afternoon to the citadel. Then it became a rainy afternoon so we headed back to the hostel. Uphill with tiny wet cobblestones is not great.

Then the sun came out again and we succeeded in not getting wet.

I hit my 10 flights of stairs target before I had taken 2,000 steps. So much travel and so little exercise. We dropped into the tourist office and got some intel on the walk. Apparently there is some uphill involved. Who knew?

We got back, prebooked our 7 Euro  lasagne and dozed off while waiting for 8pm and meal time.

Of the 8 people at dinner, 7 had cold lasagne. Had I chewed, mine also may have been cold.

On the advice of the Manchester United supporter sitting next to us, the editor decided to have the lemon flavoured dessert for 2 euros. It wasn't lemon and she regretted it until they said it was free. Winner winner marzipan dinner.

Trying to stay awake until 11 for the last episode of "beat jet lag" didn't quite happen and despite all the weird noises around the hostel, sleep was very welcome.