DISCLAIMER: information contained in this blog are the rambling thoughts of two exceptional people who decide to undertake this journey for reasons most people would not understand. It has been written to entertain those left behind who could not would not ever make the same journey. It is definitely not correct in detail so please do not take it as fact, nor is it intended as advice in anyway. Should you intend to undertake a similar journey get yourself a good guidebook, a sense of humor and enjoy!
Now we have secured a bed for the night..very important as it is raining quite steadly!!!...we have time to sit and tell you about our first day.
We were picked up by Ivan driving in van....we had a very hair raising drive to St Jean Pied de Port!! given a Basque history lesson on the way and listening to french music..ahhh.
SJPP is just beautiful, a walled medieval village...We said Bonjour to locals carrrying baguettes just like a Yoplait ad!!!!! We stayed at a small Albergue with about 15 other people from everywhere. We shared our room with a married German couple..opps best to knock before you enter...I now know what a male German arse looks like!!
Got our pilgrims passport and our first stamp (we get these at each place we stop) and we were advised not to go over the Pyreenes as there had been snow. NOW.. we had just flown half way around the world to be told we had to walk the first part next to the motor way to Spain...yes we understood this advice...but we were fit, prepared, provisioned and ready ..no stopping us.
Our backup plan was to always retrace our steps if we could not go on..we were not going to risk our lives ..sounds dramatic but the people we met later told us that they were shown photos of the people who died last month!!
So off we set. We walked 8 kms to Orrison. Very steep, but on the road. Passed flocks of sheep and the shepherd. Stopped for a coffee here and looked out at the mountains covered in snow.
Kept going as the weather was still fine and seemed clear up ahead. No other people in sight..though some had gone over earlier in the day we heard.
Here we left the road, crossed the hillside and yes Dave, we passed wild horses, but they were too busy eating. The snow was appearing now, but the path was still clear. Hard to believe that there we were, on top of the Pyrenees..snow all around now and not a soul to be seen..it was beautiful..something we will never forget.
Once we crossed the pass and michele face planted straight into the snow (very hard to stand up when you can´t stop laughing and with a back pack on) plain sailing downhill through the Blair Witch Forest..brought us to our destination the Roncesvalles Monestry.
Once we had finished, we went straight to the bar !!
We were picked up by Ivan driving in van....we had a very hair raising drive to St Jean Pied de Port!! given a Basque history lesson on the way and listening to french music..ahhh.
SJPP is just beautiful, a walled medieval village...We said Bonjour to locals carrrying baguettes just like a Yoplait ad!!!!! We stayed at a small Albergue with about 15 other people from everywhere. We shared our room with a married German couple..opps best to knock before you enter...I now know what a male German arse looks like!!
Got our pilgrims passport and our first stamp (we get these at each place we stop) and we were advised not to go over the Pyreenes as there had been snow. NOW.. we had just flown half way around the world to be told we had to walk the first part next to the motor way to Spain...yes we understood this advice...but we were fit, prepared, provisioned and ready ..no stopping us.
Our backup plan was to always retrace our steps if we could not go on..we were not going to risk our lives ..sounds dramatic but the people we met later told us that they were shown photos of the people who died last month!!
So off we set. We walked 8 kms to Orrison. Very steep, but on the road. Passed flocks of sheep and the shepherd. Stopped for a coffee here and looked out at the mountains covered in snow.
Kept going as the weather was still fine and seemed clear up ahead. No other people in sight..though some had gone over earlier in the day we heard.
Here we left the road, crossed the hillside and yes Dave, we passed wild horses, but they were too busy eating. The snow was appearing now, but the path was still clear. Hard to believe that there we were, on top of the Pyrenees..snow all around now and not a soul to be seen..it was beautiful..something we will never forget.
Once we crossed the pass and michele face planted straight into the snow (very hard to stand up when you can´t stop laughing and with a back pack on) plain sailing downhill through the Blair Witch Forest..brought us to our destination the Roncesvalles Monestry.
Once we had finished, we went straight to the bar !!
Always knew you girls would prove to be true mountain women wtc
ReplyDeleteps JB spelt it right
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”
ReplyDeleteGREATEST STORY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are only at day 4 of our journey...so we are sure we will have many more Amy xxx
ReplyDeleteYou girls were lucky - over a dozen pilgrims in the last 10 years have ignored the advice of the locals but did not live to tell their tales. The legends are obituaries on their gravestones.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe camino - listen to the locals.
Sil
think of you everyday, look forward to reading blog. GO GIRLS !!! What an amazing adventure your on once in a life time. Stay safe and I'll stay tuned. Georgenaxxx
ReplyDeleteWe know we are lucky girls..the day we got our advice, some of the men from where we were staying were told that they could go over the mountains, when we went in they asked our age and then advised that we go around instead.we thought perhaps they said that because of our age. that is why we went to Orrison and found out what was happening from there. we are freezing at the moment..waiting for spring to come to Spain!!!
ReplyDelete