A short stage in preparation for a tough one.

Day 3 Thursday 29th April
Ainhoa to Col Des Veaux 9.5 miles
Last night at the Hotel Oppoca in Ainhoa was really comfortable but for the humidity. We slept well and woke early (by our standards) as we wanted to get the hardest walking done before the sun was too strong. Even then we weren't ready to leave before 9 - tending to feet, sun protection, loosening up tight muscles etc take quite a long time but we're gradually getting into a routine. The weather played ball though. A thin cloud layer reduced the sun, the humidity had been blown away overnight and there remained a gentle breeze.
The first stretch was a bit arduous with the long steep climb starting outside the hotel before we'd had any chance for the muscles, a little stiff from yesterday, had had the chance to wake up. About an hour later and over 400 metres higher up we were rewarded with a fantastic view. After a further 3 hours of largely gentle ups and downs we arrived at our destination on the Spanish border ( though you wouldn't know it) at an altitude of around 600m. We were expecting very basic accomodation in a 14 bed dormitory attached to a farm. We found a newly converted farm building housing independent double rooms with en suite facilities. I think Graham was a bit disappointed. He's now snoring away (it's 3.45) having made the most of the large jug of vin de table that accompanied our typically hearty farmhouse lunch. The only other sound disturbing the peace is the munching mare and her foal just outside our room. All animals here are free range and we've
so far been visited by pigs, dogs, hens, horses, sheep and a cow. Somehow I think it will be difficult not to wake early tomorrow. At the moment they're mostly following graham's example and sleeping through the heat of the afternoon - the morning is unlikely to be so peaceful.