Arrive at a cold & rainy Pau France on the way to Lourdes

It is Thursday May 3 and I landed in Pau France where I will drive 45 minutes to Lourdes. It is raining and about 45 degrees. On our flight from Paris to Pau we had members from the Order of Malta from France, the USA, Hungary and Cuba....those were who I could identify from their uniforms, and there likely were other countries on board. This pilgrimage brings together Malades, in the care and company of the Order of Malta, from around the world...over 20,000 pilgrims strong. My ride up to Lourdes will follow the River Gave as it flows from its source in the Pyrenees, through Lourdes and through Pau. If I am lucky I will arrive in Lourdes in time for Mass at the Rosary Basilica where the 3 USA associations of the Order of Malta will gather to celebrate mass and initiate this year's pilgrimage.