Starting on Sunday from SJPP

[redfish-bleufish]

I have been making some rather last-minute plans to begin the Camino on the 16th May and just realized that this is a Sunday. Is it true that the office for collecting a credencial in SJPP will be closed on Sunday? I'll be arriving too late on Saturday evening to collect one then.
If this is the case, I may have to change plans to originate from Roncesvalles instead. Can anyone give their experience/opinion as to the relative merits of each starting point? Also, is it necessary to reserve a bed in either town or will it be possible to find one last-minute?

[Muesli]

I am sure that the pilgrim office is open 7 days a week. I booked a place in l'Espirit du Chemin in St.Jean. For Roncesvalles, you can't book a bed beforehand for the Albergue but you could try the two hotels there: Casa Sabina and La Posada. I know from last time that this first stage over the Pyrenees was one of highlights of the Camino for me so I would recommend doing it if at all possible. I found it a tough stage so I really took it easy for the next couple of days (maybe 15km max) as I got used to so much walking. A Spanish guy told me that there is a hospital in Logroño that has the one of the best reputations for treating chronic foot/knee complaints in Spain as every year pilgrims end up there having pushed themselves too much at the start of the Camino..

[Leslie]

I think it is open in St Jean on Sundays - though it does not mater. You will not need a pilgrims passport from St Jean to stay in Roncesvalles and you can collect one in Roncesvalles - though it is nice to have the one from St Jean.

[redfish-bleufish]

Excellent! Thanks for the prompt replies. I'm beginning to get quite excited!

Muesli - can I ask if you managed to do the whole distance from SJPP to Roncesvalles in one stretch? I'd like to do it this way but am wondering if that is a bit ambitious. I'm reasonably fit (and very hard-headed and determined) but I hate to set myself up for problems further down the road.

[Covey]

When you start at St Jean, Santiago seems an awfully long way away, and telling yourself "when I get to Santiago..........." seems very remote.

A better idea is to split the Camino in to stages and give yourself a more immediate goal and a reward.

When you leave St Jean, tell yourself that when you get to Pamplona, you will treat yourself to the best food in town. When you leave Pamplona, you tell yourself that when you get to Logrono another excellent meal is called for!! When you leave Logrono, you tell yourself that you will have a day off in Burgos as you have successfully completed 33% of your Camino. Leon is another day off, or maybe 2 days off. Each goal is therefore 3-6 days ahead, and seems far more attainable.

Listen to what your body is telling you. When your body begins to hurt, it is time to slow down and find a bed for the night.

There are no prizes for coming first on the Camino, but the penalty for overdoing things is you will go home hurt having not achieved your goal of standing in front of the Cathedral at Santiago.

[Muesli]

Hi, yes, I did it in one go alright (ie Route de Napoleon)..after Orisson (10km) there are no places to stop so you should make sure the weather forecast is ok and start early (if the forecast is bad, you should take the lower Valcarlos route). But you will be fine: just take a nice steady pace and remember to stop and admire the wonderful views..wishing you a fantastic Camino!