Day 2 of our long walk to Santiago – we are now in Roncesvalles, just across the French/Spanish border. We have walked across the Pyrenees! This stage of the Camino had caused me some angst. I knew it was difficult, both because of the distance, and also the height. I really wasn’t looking forward to it,and had a few doubts about being able to do it, and now it’s behind me. Yay! Bring on the next challenge.
We climbed to nearly 1500 metres today, more than double the highest point in Adelaide. Spectacular views, but very hard on the lungs going up, and on the knees going down. We stayed at Orisson last night – just 8km from our starting point at St Jean Pied de Port, but for a first day, that was far enough. By the end of yesterday we had done 1% of our 800km journey. Never has the saying ‘The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step’ held so much meaning.
We meet other pilgrims as we walk and greet each other with ‘Buen Camino’ – good journey. Most pilgrims we have met so far are German or French, with a few Austrians, Swiss and other European nationalities among them. A couple more Australians, several Americans and one New Zealander. It’s nice to hear a familiar Australian accent every now and then.
Last night we stayed at a small Refugio at Orisson, in a room with 2 German women and our own bathroon. Tonight we’re in a huge Refugio with maybe 100 beds in one dormitory. We feel lucky because we got 2 lower bunk beds next to each other. There’s a long queue for showers. Welcome to the pilgrim life.
Gday People. It must have been worth the clime just to say that you have seen the view going back avery long time ago to my cycle days of road racing I found it enspiring to have people around it inspired you to do Better Keep up the good work Mr Spud
I remember standing on the top of the Pyrenees and saying to Bryan”we must never forget this view”. We stayed at the refugio 5k from St Jean Pied du Port. At the time, I think they were building the one where you stayed. We stayed at the huge refugio in Roncevelle, got in early for the showers though. We had a good night drinking local liqueur in the bar there.
Saint Jean is also on the French GR10. The GR10 total distance is 866km and is one of a number of official long-distance paths (Grandes Randonnees) in France. You can get the guidebook for the GR10 here. This classic long-distance walk across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean takes about 50 days to complete, but the author divides it into sections conveniently tackled in a fortnight’s holiday, with details of accommodation and transport. This classic long-distance walk across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean takes a lower route than the more arduous Pyrenean High Route. Nevertheless it passes through striking mountain country and gorge scenery. The easy ascent of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau is described as an excursion. The route takes about 50 days to complete, but the author divides it into sections conveniently tackled in a fortnight’s holiday, with details of accommodation and transport. There is invaluable practical information for Australian walkers visiting France for the first time. The GR10 is one of a number of official long-distance paths (Grandes Randonnees) in France. The GR system is very extensive and some 40,250km of footpath have been designated and waymarked. Each GR route has been allocated a number. The GR10 runs from Hendaye on the west coast through the mountains of the Pays Basque, Bearn and Hautes Pyrenees to Luchon. From here it continues generally in an easterly direction to pass the sparsely populated Ariege, then across the Pyrenees Orientales to end on the Mediterranean coast at Banyuls-sur-Mer.