Arriving early at SJPDP

[Sparkly]

I'm arriving in SJPDP on the first train of the day at 09:36, after an overnight sleeper from Paris (comfy 1st class !) . My original plan had me getting the credential, then starting walking, but I'm now thinking that on 'camino time' setting off mid-morning is extremely late, especially for the first stage, and perhaps a night in SJPDP might be better, but it does mean using a rest day on my first day. Any thoughts on the latest one can sensibly set off to Roncesvalles? Or if staying, any recommendations for accommodation? I'm going next week and currently in pre-departure panic stage of trying to get everything done before I leave and over-worrying about plans, lists, times and other stuff, although I'm sure I'll get a good positive Camino mindset once I start walking.

[HuskyNerd]

My 2008 walk from SJPP to Roncesvalles took about 8 hours. If you walk the same pace this year as I did then you'd get there about 17:30 p.m. which does seem late. The only problem with getting there late is not having as much time to rest before heading out the next day on another long walk. BTW I'm also leaving SJPP next week (May 12) and will take off about 07:30 which will hopefully get me in around 15:30.

You could either push through SJPP and get to Roncesvalles late or walk SJPP to Orisson and stay there overnight or take a day to laze around SJPP. Three great choices. Maybe enjoying a morning at SJPP then having a relaxed walk to Orisson is your best bet? You can make a reservation there at the pilgrim office in SJPP. That would give you a more relaxed walk to Roncesvalles than either other option.

Buen camino!

[Covey]

Sandy is absolutely right about timings. Assuming your trains are on time, you will be ready to start walking at 10.30 at the earliest.

Roncesvalles is a good 8 hours at a steady pace. The rest of that days walkers are at least 3-4hours ahead of you, so you should make reasonable time because you will be walking alone.

If I were you, I would take Sandy's advice and wander up to Orisson in the afternoon and then up to Roncesvalles the next day.

[Sparkly]

Thanks to both of you. I'll decide when I get there based on weather reports for the day and how I feel after the rail journey, but stopping part-way seems a good choice.

[Covey]

You are learning!!

The best plan on the Camino is to have no plan. Just take each day as it comes. What I do each day depends on how I feel when I stick my nose outside the albergue door at dawn, what the weather is doing, whether I want to walk alone or with some company, or whether I need to do a short day and catch up on my laundry etc etc.

[drsalome]

this sounds like my agenda after arriving in toulouse at 9:30 training to SJPDP. do you recommend I make a reservation in orrison now from the u.s.? I start walking June 30.

[Covey]

It is better to make a reservation for Orisson because there are limited beds and a lot of pilgrims plan on staying there, so if you pitch up without a reservation and there are no spaces, you are faced with either returning to St Jean, or walking on to Roncesvalles which is around 20kms further on.

Between Orisson and Roncesvalles, there are no places to stop for the night or buy a meal.