Day 11 Olhaiby to Utziate, Basque Country - rain, sun and hail

We started the day in pouring rain, wearing four layers and rain gear. Before long though the sun began to peak out of the dark clouds. We crossed a pretty bridge, called, Moulin Bridge then ascended up a rocky, slippery, muddy track to a small hamlet called, Gibraltar.

Gibraltar was a highlight of the day - it is the spot where three French Camino routes meet (the one from le Puy which we took, one from Vezeley, and one from Paris). A stone marker denotes the junction.

From Gibraltar it was an uphill trek to Soyarza Chapel at the top of a hill where we were rewarded with a most beautiful panoramic view of the Pyrenees. We were so lucky the sun was still isthmus for a while and we could enjoy the moments.

After a quick picnic lunch we started walking again and soon had to quickly put our rain gear on for a sudden downpour. Very few places have been open in the small French towns that we have been passing through, but we were lucky to find a bar open in Ostabat where we stopped to warm up with a cafe au lait.

The weather was continuously changing. Before long we had another down pour. It cleared up for a while. Then suddenly came a hail storm.

A pilgrim we met today told us that the high pass over the Pyrenees had been closed the last two days because of the weather. There are two routes that the pilgrims take. The Napoleon route is the high pass that we are hoping to take. The second route is actually the original Camino but goes along the road. When the weather is bad the high route is not safe so sometimes it is closed. We will find out tomorrow when we reach Saint Jean Pied de Port.