What a lovely send off from home to begin my Camino journey. Gill, Ray and Cathy pretending to be the brass band as I marched up and down and finally got in the car to leave. These are small moments which makes life worth living and you realise how blessed you are to have such wonderful people in your life.
Cathy and I laughed and chatted all the way to Poitiers, no surprises there LOL! Boarded the train and I was off on the first leg of my journey. I must admit I did have a little cry as I settled down in my seat.
You either love it or hate it! I’m talking about mobile telecommunications technology. I was very frustrated sitting on the train with no signal!
Nearing Bordeaux I noticed on the side of the tracks were pampas grass swaying in the early autumnal breeze, unlike like the U.K where the train tracks are watched over by buddleia. You could see where and how they have self seeded alongside the track, this has given me food for thought maybe I should think about planting some at La Menantelliére!
Oooh! How exciting at Bayonne station I met my first peregrinos, brother and sister from America Sarah and Eric it was so lovely to chat about the Camino and the weight of our packs!
The journey between Bayonne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port was both majestic and spectacular I ended up with a crick in my neck from looking up! What a treat, craggy mountainous rocky river beds where you could see the water was so clear, I swear I thought I could see the bottom from the train. The whole journey I felt like we were travelling through Hansel and Gretel countryside with the distinctive architectural style houses sympathetic to the landscape.
SJPDP has not disappointed OMG it’s so beautiful bathed in the evening sunshine, I’m so blessed. Totally surrounded by mountains, there is only one way and that way is up!
Pascal and Joe who run Gîte Bidean we’re very welcoming as I arrived in my first Albergue. There were eight for my first pilgrims dinner from Texas, St Louis, Tokyo, Italy and a fellow Scot. I slept in a dormitory of four beds with two male peregrinos, surprisingly I slept well wearing earplugs for the first time.
I’m typing this blog lying in bed listening to fellow pilgrims going about their morning routine as they get ready for the walk ahead. Me, I’m off to the pilgrims office to register and collect my passport for the Camino and I’m thinking I might walk up to Orrison, which is the first 8 kilometres and get the shuttle back so I start the Camino tomorrow from Orrison.
Buen Camino
#josiewalksthecamino
#eastanglianairambulance
