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2.08.08 Saturday.
Canfranc Estacionnes to Jaca (pronounced hacker).
This morning we said goodbye to Ralph our latest visiting pilgrim, and P.I.S.S. (Pilgrims International Support Services), many, many thanks Karl and Claire in making it so easy for us to shed the load of gear we no longer need now we are on the Camino proper. Have a good trip home.
Estacionnes in the name refers to the huge (platform is 241 metres long!) barely used (now just 2 carriage trains from Jaca) international railway station being refurbished (? Why) , that used to be the point at which French trains would stop and Spainish trains takeover at the entrance to the old Somport railway tunnel, although the road tunnel is in constant use the railway tunnel is now not used at all.
We met in Canfranc with George a Spanish car salesman from Valencia , he speaks English that is improving a lot faster than our meagre Spanish, we have met him again walking down and in Jaca while waiting for the hostel to open at 1500h, according to George who has done the Camino four times it depends on whether they are official or private if official they should be open all day.
As we descended the valley the day lengthened and the temperatures rose we reached Jaca about 1230 and agree it is too seriously hot for much walking in the afternoons. We passed over the Puerto de Pelegrino a very ancient bridge and across a set of stepping stones about 3 feet high, designed to cross the river at that wide shallow place when in spate from snow melt, unfortunately one was broken, but the summer level is such that jumping from rock to rock is a perfectly dry crossing. The contrast between the modern road running down the valley with its engineered bridges, and the stony track with multiple relics of past travel is huge. We hope to make an earlier start tomorrow and do a good six hours walking before stopping to find accommodation for the night.