Reality sinks in on day two. Hiking for six hours a day is not as easy as it sounds. And day two – mostly downhill – taught us that going downhill is ALSO not as easy as it sounds.
Zubiri’s auberge is municipal and small. It was our first taste of what would become an uncomfortable and unfortunate consequence of the Camino’s intense popularity: the bed race. Simply put, there are no longer sufficient spaces to accomodate the huge numer of walkers. The mental stress of finding a bed at the end of the day is not something to be taken lightly. Many of the hikers at this stage put a quick end to their journey. This, above any other consideration, should be seriously borne.