St. Jean > Orisson

June 20thArrived fatigued in St. Jean Pied du Port. And started a short but aggressively steep hike to Orisson. I hIked to the top of the hill shown in the photo. 8k with 1770 feet of elevation. I had the Camino to myself today, I’m sure most pilgrims heading to Ronsevalles got an earlier start. Sadly I did pass a woman who had fallen and seemed to be in a lot of pain as her friends tried to get her to her feet. I could only offer a consolatory nod. The refuge is very laid back. Pilgrims stay above the restaurant in three dorm style rooms. 8 bunks per room. You get a token for the showers, it starts a timer and you have 5 minutes of hot water. I was able to scrub up and get my clothes washed. Currently reading, watching my clothes dry, and enjoying the amazing scenery! The family dinner was wonderful 25 pilgrims from all over the world. We sat on two long tables and had a simple bean soup, vegetables with baked chicken and a simple tart for desert. Conversation was light and mostly in English! After dinner I packed and organized my gear for the next day and was in my bunk by 9:00. Photos will follow with wifi access over the next couple of days.