You leave Cades behind while the village is still half asleep. The first stretch is friendly enough, but it doesn’t last. Then comes the climb: steep, well over 400 metres uphill, and you know straight away what kind of day this is going to be.
It’s a long stage and the mountains make sure you feel it. Climbs and descents take turns, and the landscape keeps changing. That helps, because you have the whole day to settle into it. Take your time for a break and eat on schedule, even if you aren’t hungry. At the end, a public albergue awaits you in Cabañes. Try to arrive with a bit of daylight left, so you can shower in peace and loosen up your muscles.