Well here I am at Roncevaux monastery on night 2. TWO?? What happened to the bonus day I found ?
Well I've followed the advice on the forum. So I didn't push myself, not a race etc
Being brutally honest, it was tough. I'm diabetic with some blood pressure and other issues, and I think I had a couple of hypos - not sure why, I rationalise that extra sudden exercise affected blood sugar. Remedied with chocolate and lots of pauses. So I was slow. Local French couple advised me to make detour as I would be walking down other side through woods at night. Stay on tarmac.
But before I could, the sun had already gone and then a storm came in. Just 500km from col de lepoeder. It seemed bad. So I decided to use the shelter at Izandorre. No facilities of course but very welcome protection from wind and rain (apart from leaking window and door). Scary night, had to layer up fully and use foil emergency blanket. Ran out of water. Tree came down near shelter. So unexpected night stay on the mountain. I don't really recommend it ;-)
Storm blew non-stop from 8pm through to 11am, when the wind reduced. Rain continued but I was ok with that.
When I got to the downhill stretch through the woods, I was glad I had holed up. At night even with head-light it would have been tough.
Relaxed and dry I'm looking forward to tomorrow, although with some trepidation on hypos, and cramps. But it has to easier than first stage ..... Doesn't it ? ;-)