Day 3 Aire-sur-l`Adour to Miramont-Sensacq 16 Klms

After I prepare a nice dinner of `Chilli Con Carne` and enjoy a pleasant night`s rest, the road opens again through fields of corn or `maise` as its called here.

Doing another half day, as this will prepare the body, which has not hiked at all since last year. I am being careful to hold my posture correctly, with hips aligned with shoulders. It is important to note that carrying a pack of any weight over such distances, will had significant loads to lower back muscles and spine. Each stop I make, i endeavour to stretch shoulders, back and legs. Lying on the ground also provides needed traction.

I pass beautiful fields, forests and the Pyrenees peaks sometimes come into view, when desending. It is quite awesome and I can only wonder at the zeal of early pilgrims that faced packs of wild animals (including wolves and bears)and robbers.

Having read Sir John Ure`s book ``Pilgrimage-The great adventure of the Middle Ages``, I am astonished by intricate community and socio economic movement that existed along this road. The motivations of those pilgrims were pretty much the same as today, contrasts of those seeking enlightenment and those seeking adventure. The magnitude of the zeal involved is enormous however, as the early pilgrim was not at all sure of a return and if he did in fact return, was an instant celebrity in his home town.