My First Day in the Camino!!!!

I wish I could post my adventures everyday, but I'm finding the wifi at most albergues is limited.

But here's what my last few days have been like:

The train ride across southwestern France to the starting point of my pilgrimage was crazy beautiful. It traveled through lush, dense forest, with a rocky, rushing stream winding beside Alongside us. fishermen, kayakers and whitewater rafters were enjoying the river. The train glided quietly past clusters of white stucco houses with red clay rooves. Cows and sheep dotted intermittent fresh green pastures. It was all too perfect!

The town of Saint Jean Pied de Port was mind blowing! My overnight accommodations were on a steep and narrow cobblestone street within ancient fortified walls. I met some lovely folks there (from Bancroft & London, Ontario).

This morning a delightful Australian gal (married to a Torontonian and living in Belgium) and I headed out into the Pyrenees mountains. It grew sunny and warm and we stopped for a beer on a patio. Met up with a fellow from Britain and another from Italy and finished the day 26 kms later in Roncesvalles, Spain. The walk was a slow uphill grade for the first 6 hours or so, then a steep downgrade. After our beer, the weather rapidly shifted to cold rain, strong winds and heavy fog. We trudged through mud and snow on a beautiful footpath that featured incredible views and spooky old wet forests...

I had such a fabulous day that I don't care what the trail is like tomorrow. It was ridiculously beautiful and I am soooo excited to be here!!!
I wish I could post my adventures everyday, but I'm finding the wifi at most albergues is limited.

But here's what my last few days have been like:

The train ride across southwestern France to my starting point of my pilgrimage was crazy beautiful. It traveled through lush, dense forest, with a rocky, rushing stream winding beside it. fishermen, kayakers and whitewater rafters were enjoying the river. The train glided quietly past clusters of white stucco houses with red clay rooves. Cows and sheep dotted intermittent fresh green pastures. It was all too perfect!

The town of Saint Jean Pied de Port was mind blowing! My albergues was on a steep and narrow cobblestoned street within ancient fortified walls. I met some lovely folks there (from Bancroft & London, Ontario).

This morning a delightful Australian gal (married to a Torontonian and living in Belgium) and I headed out into the Pyrenees mountains. It grew sunny and warm and we stopped for a beer on a patio. Met up with a fellow from Britain and another from Italy and finished the day 26 kms later in Roncesvalles, Spain. The walk was a slow uphill grade for the first 6 hours or so, then a steep downgrade. After our beer, the weather rapidly shifted to cold rain, strong winds and heavy fog. We trudged through mud and snow on a beautiful footpath that featured incredible views and spooky old wet forests...

I had such a fabulous day that I don't care what the trail is like tomorrow. It was ridiculously beautiful! I am soooo thrilled to be here!!!!!!