Anybody starting on May 1st

[jo hughes]

Hi I will be starting my journey from UK on May 1st and hope to get to St Jean that evening. I was wondering if anyone else is planning to start at that time.
Thanks Jo

[Mena]

Hi Jo
I am planning on starting on the 1st of May.
I have one month and live about an hour east of toulouse in France.
I think to make it in a month I might go directly to Pamplona from Toulouse if I can. I am a bit dubious of starting in the Pyrenees....Put it down to laziness...
Mena

[toledo]

Hi, I am starting from SJPP on the 29th April so we may meet along the way.

[JLP]

Hi, I am planning to start walking on May 1 from SJPP. I'm flying from the US to Paris and taking a train. Does anyone know just how arduous the Pyrenees stretch is? I'm reasonably fit, but don't want to exhaust myself on the first day. Is there a way to break this part into a shorter trek than going all the way from SJPP to Roncevalles?

[jo hughes]

Hi jlp. I am also flying from Paris on May 1st.I am travelling on the 6.30pm flight. We may meet on the plane from Paris. I am also reasonably fit but unsure as to which route to take from St Jean. I guess it depends on the weather when we get there. The mountain route I've been told would not be wise if there is still snow, but there is a route by road. I am quite keen to get to St Jean on May 1st evening rather than stay in Biarritz. I have been told that although there is a train from Biarritz, it is much easier to get a taxi direct if there are 4 people to share. Maybe you would consider this as an option and share a taxi. Best wishes Jo

[thomas.randolph]

hey jo

if the timing works out i could be up for joining you in the taxi. i am planning on arriving bayonne from the south around the 1st so it might work out.

will keep looking at this site.

ter

[PaulR]

To Jo (and other respondents to her post):

I'm on the flight from Stansted to Biarritz on 1 May arriving at 15.05.

On another weekday that flight would connect with a train from Bayonne to SJPP that arrives at about 19.30. However, since 1 May is a public holiday in France (and, less relevantly, Spain), the limited train service available arrives at 22.20 or so.

Hence, if there are takers for a shared taxi to SJPP, that looks like an attractive option.

Any takers?

Best wishes, Paul

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul its good to hear from you. I get into Biarritz from Paris at 19.30 on 1st May. If you want to wait for me let me know. There's potentially three of us at present that could share a cab. Have you travelled the Camino before? Best wishes Jo

[PaulR]

Jo,

Thanks for your quick reply. I'd be happy to wait until you arrive from Paris at 19.30 to share a taxi to SJPP. But will there be room with the other potential starters?

I haven't walked the Camino before.

Best wishes, Paul

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul, the other responses to the taxi idea have only been potential. I'm quite happy to commit to meeting up with you nearer the time if you are happy with that. This is the first time I have used a site like this and am finding it quite an amazing and exciting facility to be able to communicate across the world and make plans with strangers! I'm only just begining to realise how wonderful the internet is. Oh dear, does this make me sound old? From a technophobe reborn! Jo

[PaulR]

Hello Jo,

The 'Net is indeed a wonder and handy for arrangements like this.

I'm also happy to make the arrangements closer to the time if you wish. The key element, I suppose, will be the meeting place. Perhaps the Rail station at Bayonne?

It's all getting a little close. Exciting but also anxiety producing. And busy. Soy ocupdao y preocupado, if my limited Spanish is correct.

Best wishes, Paul

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul, your Spanish is far better than mine! Yes, its getting very exciting, although I am a little anxious and frustrated with not being able to do any exercise at present whilst I wait for my achilles injury to repair. I know the wait will be worth it. Bayonne train station sounds fine, but if we are both flying in do we need to go to the rail station. I think its a bus ride from the airport. Anyway, still got plenty of time for finer details. Are you coming over from Sydney or will you already be in Europe? Got my Pilgrim's Guide by John Brierley today. It looks excellent and makes it all very real. The dream is slowly turning into a reality Best wishes Jo

[PaulR]

Hello Jo,

Sorry to hear about your achilles injury. Hope you get over it soon. The resting must be frustrating. And Brierley's guide looks excellent. I'm taking it too.

As for suggesting that we meet at Bayonne, looking back over the earlier posts, I can see that I have been careless and mistaken. Presumably, we can meet at the airport in Biarritz as you fly in at 19.30 on 1 May. As I've said earlier, I'm flying from Stansted to Biarritz on 1 May, arriving there at 15.05. I'll have spent the night before in London. We can settle meeting arrangements in due course.

I haven't made any accommodation arrangements in SJPP. Haven't been sure when I would be able to get there on 1 May.

Best wishes, Paul

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul

Thanks for your reply. Airport meeting sounds good to me. I'm sure we'll meet another couple of pilgrims between now and then to take the cab with us. I haven't booked either. Don't really want to. Once I get to SJPP I simply want to go with the flow, be in the moment and let my adventure unfold. I am a project manager and spend my life planning months ahead. One of the things I am looking forward to is not to have to do or think too much about what might happen but being present, using my intuition, and just 'being' for a month. My injury seems like a real curse at the moment. I am trying to be philosophical about it but I am full of fear and doubt that I might not be able. I have spent many years in the mountains and have been running for the last couple of years. My physical ability to walk the Camino was never in doubt. I guess I took it for granted. Ironically it was in fact my new boots (that I bought specifically for the trip) that did the harm on a walk on Good Friday. I have now bought some trainer/walking/shoes but can't get more than a couple of miles before it sets it off. I will probably make a slow start and pray that it gets better. Anyway, enough of my woes. I keep telling myself its all part of the journey. Happy preparation Jo

[PaulR]

Jo,

You are being appropriately philosophical about the injury. I hope the coming 2/3 weeks see some resolution for you. I've had better luck with my new (lightweight) boots although they haven't ben put to the test that you probably gave yours on Good Friday.

Talk to you soon.

Best wishes for your recovery, Paul

[Paul K]

Hi Jo & Paul, I too am flying into Biarritz on May 1st. I am on the same flight as you Paul. Just wondered if you done anything about accomodation in Saint-Jean because I contacted the private hostel by e-mail today to be told its full May 1st & 2nd. So far I've seen varying train times leaving Bayonne and it looks like we could all be on the last train and arriving late.

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul K

The other Paul! and myself were considering getting a taxi from the airport as it works out about 80 euros between 4 people and takes less than an hour. You would be very welcome to join us. Paul mentioned about accommodation and I thought I would sort it when I got there assuming there would not be a problem so early in the year. Maybe starting on May bank holiday wasn't such a good idea after all! I'm away for the weekend but will make some enquiries when I get back. Please let me know how you get on.

Jo

[Paul K]

Thank you for your reply Jo,

You can count me in for a taxi share. According to my guide book the Pilgrams office assists with accomodation and it is open until 22.00. I will try to contact the office (I've no french, or Spainish for that matter!) in advance,

Cheers,

Paul

[Sesame]

To Jo (and other respondents to her post):

I'm on the flight from Stansted to Biarritz on 1 May arriving at 15.05.

On another weekday that flight would connect with a train from Bayonne to SJPP that arrives at about 19.30. However, since 1 May is a public holiday in France (and, less relevantly, Spain), the limited train service available arrives at 22.20 or so.

Hence, if there are takers for a shared taxi to SJPP, that looks like an attractive option.

Any takers?

Best wishes, Paul

Hallo Paul

I am flying in from Stansted to Biarritz on 7 May. Do you know by any chance the cost of the bus to Bayonne and the cost of the train to SJPP? I want to see whether it is worth also trying to find a few guys to share a taxi. Also how long does it take by taxi to SJPP from Biarritz airport?
Thanks and regards, Eugene

[PaulR]

Hello to Jo and Paul K:

Thanks for the emails. I haven?t tried booking in SJPP for 1 May, perhaps taking an irrationally optimistic view of availability. I?ll make some inquiries shortly. I don?t know whether it would be wise simply to rely upon getting access to the albergue or other accommodation upon arrival in SJPP. On the other hand, as Jo says, the trip should be less than an hour and the tourist office is open until 22.00, I understand.

However, 1 May is a public holiday in both France and Spain and we be starting on a surge. Hopefully, the crest of the wave will not be in SJPP on 1 May.

Best wishes, Paul

[PaulR]

Hallo Paul

I am flying in from Stansted to Biarritz on 7 May. Do you know by any chance the cost of the bus to Bayonne and the cost of the train to SJPP? I want to see whether it is worth also trying to find a few guys to share a taxi. Also how long does it take by taxi to SJPP from Biarritz airport?
Thanks and regards, Eugene

Eugene:

A post on another site contains this advice that applies to your question:

Fly Ryanair to Biarritz, when you exit the airport take a bus to Bayonne Gare ( cost 1.5 euro) from Bayonne get a train to St Jean (cost 8 euro).
The train journey itself is wonderfull , a long winding track through the mountains following a lovely little river.

BTW when you exit the Airport in Biarritz you will see a taxi rank offering taxis to Bayonne , they cost about 20 euro."

CSJ says this here:
http://www.csj.org.uk/planning.htm
To reach St Jean Pied-de-Port: either fly to Biarritz with Ryanair, take the airport bus to Bayonne station, then the branch line train (up to 6 per day in summer) to St Jean.

[End quote]

The trip from Bayonne to SJPP takes a little over an hour, I believe. Since 7 May sis not a public holiday, normal train services apply.

Hope this helps.

Best, Paul

[Paul K]

Hi Jo & PaulR,

I sent an e-mail to the local municipal hostel in SJPP over the weekend and once I had translated the reply on the net it said that they don't take advanced bookings. Having read your previous threads I agree with your view that it is best to go with the flow. I guess I am so used to everything being planned and arranged it is hard to let go. I'm leaving my mobile phone at home for that very reason. Not long to go now,
Best Wishes, Paul K

[Sesame]

Thanks for the info Paul & have a great Camino. I will be a week behind you so we will probably not meet, but who knows? Regards, Eugene

[jo hughes]

Hi Eugene and Paul R and K
I may be going slow because of my achilles injury so we may meet up Eugene.
As for the hostel bookings I'm sure we will be ok. Just a reminder that I don't get into Bayonne until 7.30 (maybe nearer 8 by the time I'm out) so if you want to get a taxi together then you may have to wait for me! Although I said I was keen to go with the flow I have to admit to taking my mobile. My dad died in Jan and mum wants me to check in with her. I have said I will put it on for a few minutes around 6pm every evening just to assure everyone at home I am ok. I am so looking forward to 1st May. There is such a lot to do at work before I go I will probably start off totally exhausted. It may take a while to get used to the rhythm of simply getting up and walking all day. Oh the joy of it all! See you soon Jo

[Paul K]

Hey Jo, I am happy to wait for you to arrive to share a taxi. I finish my job/career in England and move back to Ireland (without a career plan!) a couple of days before I start. I've spent the past 8 years working every hour god sends with one day off every two weeks and a mobile phone glued to my ear. My bills show that I regularly spent over 24 hours a month on the phone so it is important to me to leave mine behind. My Camino is the start of a whole new direction for me as I give up the ambitious career path that was driven by insecurity and fear of failure. I am most looking forward to the mental rest that I hope will come from the simplicity of walking day after day. See you soon, Paul K

[jo hughes]

Hi Paul its good to hear from you. Sounds like a very exciting time in your life. How wonderful to be at the begining of a new chapter without insecurity and fear of failure. I too am looking forward to the simplicity of the walk but know that I will have to return to the job and the bills. Hopefully I will be a changed person and find some inspiration to change my life too. I love Ireland and have spent a couple of cycling holidays around the Wicklow mountains and cycling from Dublin to Doolin. Also spent some time on the Aran Isles where I feel very at home as I live on a limestone peninsula here in Wales. Looking forward to meeting up with you 2 weeks today. Cant believe its so soon. Best wishes Jo

[Sesame]

Hi Jo. If your injury has not fully healed by May 1, it may be wise to start walking from Roncesvalle as the steep incline may play havoc with your archilles tendon. Blessings, Eugene

[jo hughes]

Hi Eugene, many thanks for your message and I know you are right. However, I seem unable to accept that I will not be ok to walk from SJJP. I was thinking of splitting the journey up. Taking my time on the first day, collecting passport, food etc and having a gentle walk to the Orisson hostel about 8km from SJJP and a rise of 1000m. This then makes day 2 much easier and yet I still get the pleasure of walking the more mountainous route. Of course it will be the weather that ultimately decides on the route. Sense will prevail in the end but right know I have my head in the sand and believe that sheer will power and determination will get me through. My achilles may not play ball! Love and best wishes Jo

[dolly]

Hi

I started the camino last year in SJPP and walked as far as Logrono. I'm flying into Bilbao this week to get train to Logrono and start again for another two weeks. I've lost my pilgrim passport, does anyone know where I can get one in Logrono?

Dolly

[isawise]

Hi I will be starting my journey from UK on May 1st and hope to get to St Jean that evening. I was wondering if anyone else is planning to start at that time.
Thanks Jo

great, I'm starting on 10th of May from St Jean. good luck with your walk!