I have a little under a month to go before I head off to southern France and walk what I have left of the Camino de Santiago. 28 days of waiting to be exact. What has struck me is how different I feel now to how I felt on the three previous occasions in 2011 to 2013. I have a greater deal of apprehension and excitement this time round, but I shouldn’t have, should I? I should be a veteran at this 🙂 In 2011, my preparation and training was non existent, and I was more worried about fund-raising than actually getting to Santiago from Sarria. In 2012, I walked from Leon to Sarria without a proper pair of walking boots or socks.
This year, I have been glued to the Camino forum, have met some really great people and picked up some great tips. I hope to meet some in St Jean before I head off the next morning and over the following 2 weeks, I may bump into them on a number of occasions. I’m toying with the idea of getting a taxi down with a few others from Biarritz / Bayonne to St Jean. There is of course the option of catching a train / bus down to St Jean for cheaper but it does take longer.
But after I leave St Jean, I have no idea what will happen. I have spoken to lots who are stopping in Orisson which is hostel situated 8km after St Jean. It splits the first stage in two. I’m going to plow on ahead. Unfortunately, it has only 30 beds or something, and reservations are taken very quickly. I hope to reach Belorado by the 15th of September. I have chosen Belorado as a stopping point as there is a direct bus you can catch that goes direct to Bilbao. I have the option of walking ahead and getting a taxi to Burgos but depends on how the feet are. From there I can get a train to Bilbao.
And what about when I return? What then? I have been reading up on the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago for 2015. But another part of me is tempted to walk another stretch of the French Way. I’m a little confused and have yet to set anything in stone. But I will be back next year at some stage.
It is a public holiday here in Ireland and I have a day off from work. So today I mainly have been looking for a lost passport. My pack at this moment in time looks like this…which is a mess 🙂
Clearskies Camino 
Hi David,best of luck with your Camino.I really enjoy your blogs.I walked the St Jean – Belorado route in May 2013 and got that bus back from Belorado to Bilbao.Let me know if you need any details re : bus times or even details of the stops I made.I’ll gladly share/pass on what info I have.Make sure you are back in time to see the Dubs (HOPEFULLY) win back to back Sams !!
Rgds,
Peadar
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Hi Peader!
Thanks very much for the comment! Glad you like the blogs. I’ve left the toughest section to last but I can’t wait to get back out there. Did you stay in Puente le Reina by the way? I’m eager to catch the Hurling final which is on the Sunday, I reckon I should be there by then.
I’d never miss the Boys in Blue lifting the Sam..so I’ll definitely be home for that!
David
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Hi David,stayed in Puente La Reina in the Albergue Jakue which is attached to the Hotel Jakue.As far as I recall it was EUR10 .The bunks in some parts of the Albergue were a bit close together but it was very clean and had jacuzzi type showers ! Make sure you go for the Albergue dinner.It was EUR 13 but is was buffet style in a large function room in the Hotel.You got one main course but could keep going up to get as many starters and deserts as you wanted ! It really was a cut above the standard ‘menu peregrino’.Also they had white and red wine on tap !! so again you could keep helping yourself until the wine ran dry.In the morning you could buy a decent brekkie up in the bar area of the Hotel.I would stay there again.I’m a bit like yourself as I’m completing the Camino Frances in ‘stages’.I travelled from Astorga to Santiago de Comp and then from Cee to Finisterre and Muxia in Sept 2011.Caught the Camino bug so bad that I had to go back in May 2013 and walked St Jean to Belorado(but stayed in Orisson).Next May(2015) I will walk from Belorado to Astorga thus completing the Frances.Then I can start all over again !! Buen Camino
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Thanks a mill for that info. I’m aiming for Pamplona – Puente la Reina – Estella, but don’t like the thoughts of staying in 3 large albergues (in a row!) so I am looking for somewhere smaller that has wifi. I can watch the game then. I’ll watch out for Jakue. I’ve had the bug for a few years now and there is no sign of it leaving! You’ll like Belorado to Astorga. I really enjoyed the meseta after Burgos.
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Good luck! We might see you somewhere along the way? We head off in about a month’s time. Actually in exactly a month, we will be in St Jean.
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I leave St Jean on the 4th. It would be great to walk for a bit with you! 🙂
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