Day 2

Day 2 started with a hangover and a mess.  Turns out drunk me puts up a tent real well but because of the darkness didn't realise it was going up on clay....  Clay everywhere.  Well at least my kit looks seasoned now.  As well as the hangover there was a distinct smell of vinegar, turns out that was me, yes one day into the route and I'm stinking up.  Before long bag packed and solar panel attached I was off.  The route started out very well marked but after 40 minutes or so I was off track, its hard to understand why because there were no visible options, however I had picked up a four legged friend who trotted alongside me for 15 minutes or so before I realised there was no owner or collar.
I came across a small farm where the enthusiastic farmer in his best Spanish accent pointed out a route to get me on track. I say Spanish accent because here in the Basque country they speak Euskadi, a language of unknown origin where the word "bai" pronounced "bye" means "yes".  I explained that the dog had been following me and he took it off my hands saying he would look after it.  Although he said I should have a dog if I can pick them up so easy.

A few hours later I arrived at my first rest point,  I was flagging.
Three hours walking but according to the signpost only 2 hours covered and 6 more to go, at this rate 9 hours.  Also the rest stop had been advertised as having a shop and bar, It didn't. …..

Further along the route I bumped into a couple more Valencians who informed me that a nice local was offering water as his house as water on the route was sparse.  A lovely guy who started with"you speak French? Spanish?", to which I replied "no but I speak English".  "I don't speak English" he said in English.  I was baffled.

It was apparent at my second rest stop that I was indeed flagging badly.  I had commenced 6 hours ago but was only 4 hours into the 7 hour walk, by my calculation that would put my finishing time well after 9pm.  I set off again through rolling hills higher and higher until I was above the clouds a spectacular experience before descending into the cloud and meandering through misted forest that wouldn't seem out of place in a Friday the 13th movie or some kind of Stephen King adaptation.  As darkness descended so did I on Elizando, the rain started to fall at a perfectly wrong moment I realised that I would not get the tent up in time so I sought out the local Alburge,  over priced and way out of town it was the only option.  I arrived damp and tired after 12 hours of walking.  Please gods of the GR11, make tomorrow easier.