from Barcelona to St.Jean help!!

[petrakt]

Well it looks like I am making the start of my camino difficult. I arrive in Barcelona at 08.45 on tuesday Oct 5th. I would like to start my camino in St. Jean on wed morning. I will miss the morning trains to Bayonne and Pamplona, the afternoon train to Pamplona gets me there at 1910, too late for the bus to Roncesevalles. The afternoon train gets me to Bayonne at 2300!!

I couldn't find buses to Pamplona or Bayonne, are there any?

Can anyone recommend a place to stay in Bayonne?

thx

petra

[Covey]

Given that you are arriving at the wrong end of Spain either by accident or design, my advice to you would be to start your Camino at Pamplona. You will be able to pre book a small hotel in Pamplona before you arrive and collect a Pilgrim Passport either that evening or the following morning 7am - 8am at the Jesus & Mary Albergue which is 75m from the Cathedral.

The hassle factor and cost of getting yourself from Pamplona over to St Jean, only to walk all the way back, is not really worth it if you are already in Pamplona. Everybody who starts at St Jean (or before!) ends up walking through the middle of Pamplona about 50m from the albergue! You also save yourself 2 days walking and the 27km hike over the Pyrenees. If you could guarantee good weather going over the top from St Jean to Roncesvalles, then it is worth the trip, but in October your chances are not so great.

[Covey]

There is a transport company who run a mini bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles and St Jean Express Bouricot They are very good but can be expensive if there are not many to share the cost.

[petrakt]

Thank-you for your response and the link, which I think will ease much traveling stress, I have a need to start in St. Jean, I actually walked the last 200k or so las year and this year I would like to walk the "beginning" anyway it will be a long trip to st. Jean but I really would like to walk across the pyrness, this is a once in a if time thing, thanks for your insight and the link to the French minibus which I think wil save my day.

best,
petra

[Covey]

Now I understand the logic!

Buen Camino