The Walk Begins Over the Pyrenees

September 12 -13

Our starting point for the Camino was St. Jean Pied de Port, an absolutely charming town in France at the foothills of the Pyrenees. We arrived there the day before the walk to get our pilgrims' credentials and stake out the beginning of our journey. Quite unexpectedly, we were treated to a wonderful experience at the Hotel des Pyrenees with spacious modern rooms, great service and yet another Michelin one-star restaurant. Not to worry, these pleasures will soon be a faint memory . . .

Okay, finally the walk begins! A number of pilgrims gather in the dark shortly after 6 am, a bit nervous about what to expect and how long the first walk will take. On the way to the trail, many of us stop at the boulangerie, conveniently open for early pilgrims, for a warm loaf of bread and french pastry (stockpiling those extra carbs). These anxieties are actually quite normal when you consider that the journey starts with a 20-mile hike climbing close to 4,000 feet then steeply descending more than 1,600 feet into Roncesvalles. Mother Nature made the walk even more treacherous with 30 plus mile-an-hour winds and repeated downpours. In fact, ponchos of all colors were the fashion statement of the day.

Those who stayed the course were rewarded with spectacular views of mountains, hillsides and forests. I must admit that I never once played the music that had been my faithful hiking companion for fear that I would miss the clinging of cow bells and the baas of the sheep who refused to be silenced by the howling wind.

So, Camino Bill and Carol had a wonderful and blister-free first day on their way to Santiago!

~ Buen Camino, Carol ~