Day 14, Thursday 08 November Elizondo and Baztan Valley

Day 14, Thursday 08 November Elizondo and Baztan Valley

No bread for toast only coffee to start the day! We had forgotten to go to the bread store the day before!

With mostly sunny skies and a forecast into the low 60s we headed “up the hill to Gorramendi”

As we made our way around the winding road cut into the mountain side, I remembered that first ride from Torrejon to the site for the first time October 29^th 1968, I was 20 years old and the Vietnam war was in full swing. A dark and damp fall day that had taken us nearly 9 hours from Torrejon in our big American Dodge 6-pax pickup truck with Box topper shell on the back bed. Ben Ojacca our supply guy who also ran the site BX shop was driving there were two new guys coming to the site for their re-assignment. We had stopped at least 4 different times along the way for Ben to distribute items to his blackmarket clients between the site and Madrid. The other stop was for gas at the usual gas station on the outskirts of Soria. Today brought memories rushing back of winding narrow roads most without markings and a larger than normal American vehicle trying to stay on the righthand side lane. Headlights shining around corners made it easier at night to make time. Of course back then only 2 lane roads with the over laden Pegaso trucks would be lumbering along holding up traffic although the nicer drivers would use their right turn signals to alert those following when passing was clear ahead.

Only 10 degrees at the barracks area and wild horses were grazing all over. Which reminds us of the time Willie Moffett was stopped on the road by a stubborn horse who refused to move. He honked his horned and the horse promptly sat on his hood creating a huge impression, to say the least! 

The valley was reading 13 degrees when we started out. We even stopped to take a pic of the French Tropo site opposite, which still appears to be still in operation. We are close to the border with France and in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it is so beautiful, still green and lush, the trees showing off their autumn colors and the mountains are quite majestic though they are still the foothills. Impressive! Back down the hill to Elbete for lunch today at the Posada, menu of the day 12 euros Fish soup, meatballs and dessert. Jane had pumpkin soup, meatballs, and dessert. Belen is a very talented chef!

It was a short drive to the Mirador of the Baztan while the sun still shone to take a few more pictures of the Valley. It is about time they trimmed those damn trees!   Afterwards a stop at the BM supermarket coming into town for supplies, pizza and crisps at the apartment for a change we will not have to wander the streets to see who might be open for the evening. We also found the Chinese Bazar store in town, Jane found a pair of fleece lined house socks to warm her feet. Oh joy! Awesome socks!

So, we spent a night in and enjoyed it immensely. We are decompressing totally. I guess we didn’t realize how tightly wound we were. Elizondo works its magic again!