11 days before I begin again

[diverdavey]

Well, my flight is booked & my first night in St. Jean is booked. 02 July is my start date. After booking, I realised I'm walking straight into Pamplona at the beginning of the San Fermin Fiesta. GULP!
I'll be interested to know how this will turn out. I guess the Camino will provide.
By the way, if anyone is arriving at Biarritz airport around 15:00hrs on the 02nd of July, I'm game to share a taxi to St. Jean.
Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The bull running begins on July 7, so you may be past Pamplona by then. The camino will provide very little for the pilgrim during Sanfermines except the opportunity to keep moving! You will be on your own...

 

[Pat Gannon]

Well, my flight is booked & my first night in St. Jean is booked. 02 July is my start date. After booking, I realised I'm walking straight into Pamplona at the beginning of the San Fermin Fiesta. GULP!
I'll be interested to know how this will turn out. I guess the Camino will provide.
By the way, if anyone is arriving at Biarritz airport around 15:00hrs on the 02nd of July, I'm game to share a taxi to St. Jean.
Buen Camino

 

[Thomas1962]

Exiting to get so close to your starting date!
On your own? Might be wishfull thinking on the frances...

If you are willing to stop before Pamplona, or are fit and prepared to walk still some km's after Pamplona you'll be fine. If it all doesn't help, cash in your pocket for taxi's will do the rest.
And if that doesn't work too, you will have only one bad night, that's it. Nothing to worry about already now. I understand from what you write that you let if come the way it comes anyway, personally I like that attitude

 

[Pat Gannon]

Hi sorry I cannot respond to your question. I am starting my first Camino on 18th, August, 2014. I see you have books your first night at SJPDP and I'm wondering if you would have a link as I would like to have my accommodation booked also as I do not arrive until 7pm

 

[diverdavey]

Hi Pat, I just Googled Gite Ultreia in St. Jean Pied de Port & I booked via their website.

 

[Thomas1962]

Hi sorry I cannot respond to your question. I am starting my first Camino on 18th, August, 2014. I see you have books your first night at SJPDP and I'm wondering if you would have a link as I would like to have my accommodation booked also as I do not arrive until 7pm

Hi Pat, probably this list will help you all along the frances.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...lbergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/

Wish you enjoy your preptime already!

 

[patw]

The bull running begins on July 7, so you may be past Pamplona by then. The camino will provide very little for the pilgrim during Sanfermines except the opportunity to keep moving! You will be on your own...

Looking for some where to stay last stop before Santiago check out the newly opened Pension with a great Albergue room. theway.org.es

 

[Lily_B]

Hello DiverDavey I think we're probably on the same flight, would be up for sharing a taxi if we can find a few others to bring the price down Buen camino!

 

[diverdavey]

Hello DiverDavey I think we're probably on the same flight, would be up for sharing a taxi if we can find a few others to bring the price down Buen camino!

Hi Lily, well that's a great start. We may be able to round up a couple of waifs and strays with rucksacks at Biarritz airport to fill the taxi. Keep in touch and we'll see if anyone else joins in this thread.

 

[Mark2012]

I'll be a couple of hours ahead of you - my flight is due to arrive in Biarritz at 12.55pm. You're probably aware of this service, but just in case, I've booked transport to St Jean through Express Bourricot - http://www.expressbourricot.com/en.html. I think it's a mini-bus. There's a flat fee of €72, so the more people book the same vehicle the less it'll cost individuals, i.e., last I heard, two more people had booked, so that means €24 each.

Might be a useful link to click!

 

[diverdavey]

I'll be a couple of hours ahead of you - my flight is due to arrive in Biarritz at 12.55pm. You're probably aware of this service, but just in case, I've booked transport to St Jean through Express Bourricot - http://www.expressbourricot.com/en.html. I think it's a mini-bus. There's a flat fee of €72, so the more people book the same vehicle the less it'll cost individuals, i.e., last I heard, two more people had booked, so that means €24 each.

Might be a useful link to click!

Cheers Mark. I'll get on that now. See you in St. Jean. Buen Camino mate.

 

[diverdavey]

Hello DiverDavey I think we're probably on the same flight, would be up for sharing a taxi if we can find a few others to bring the price down Buen camino!

Hi again Lily, I've just had a message from Mark telling me about Express Bourricot. I've emailed them to enquire about transport from the airport to St. Jean. If they are available, do you want to be included?

 

[Lily_B]

Hi again Lily, I've just had a message from Mark telling me about Express Bourricot. I've emailed them to enquire about transport from the airport to St. Jean. If they are available, do you want to be included?

That sounds brilliant, should work out cheaper than the train hopefully. As a student I need to scrimp every last euro! Count me in if the numbers work.

 

[steph13]

I used Express bourricot last Sept.Email her ..info on her website...she updates the flights and times and spaces in her van and tells you the amount per person!!!

 

[Charlotte Skov Thomsen]

I can see, that some of you, are starting in St. Jean a day after me and my son. We are arriving Biarritz on the 1. July, and we also hope to share a taxi. But maybe we meet on our ways. Buen Camino

 

[stephenjhorrocks]

Your plan seems to be the same as mine last Summer, we arrived the day before San Fermin, but it all worked out really well. Seeing Pamplona ready for the Bulls is worth it too! Gite Ultreia is where we stayed and I couldn't recommend the hostel more. I wish I could do it over again this year, got to wait til late July for Leon->Finisterre!

Buen Camino!

 

[GerryDel]

I will be there during San Fermin as well, a little later than you though. A question, you mention you booked at St. Jean. Is that necessary? I was planning on just showing up at St Jean and getting an albergue. How difficult is it to get one?

 

[diverdavey]

I'm not sure Gerrydel, so I just went online & booked to save any hassle upon arrival.

 

[GerryDel]

Thanks, did you book in Pamplona? Folks on this board warned me that many of the albergues in Pamplona are closed during San Fermin.

 

[diverdavey]

Well, Gerrydel, I'm just trusting it to the magic of the Camino. The Camino will provide!

 

[GerryDel]

I found a cheap hotel on the outskirts of Pamplona, but I booked it weeks ago. Not sure what the costs are now.

 

[diverdavey]

That sounds brilliant, should work out cheaper than the train hopefully. As a student I need to scrimp every last euro! Count me in if the numbers work.

I've asked Express bourricout to keep me informed if anyone else is arriving at our time & needs a ride. It is 72 euros for the minibus, so obviously the more people to ride in it, the cheaper per head. Failing that, I guess its a bus to Bayonne then the rail replacement bus to SJPDP.

 

[indyinmaine]

1. Stick with Caroline. It's worth the money.
2. With the exception of the pilgrim mass in the Cathedral I wasn't impressed with Pamplona, but then I'm not a city person. I'd suggest planning your route so that you end up in Zariquiegui, about 10 km past Pamplona. First, it's a great albergue with great food, and second it gets you up and over the Alto del Perdon early while your legs are still fresh.

 

[Brendaparrish]

Am arriving July ... Definitely give five stars to caroline at express bourricot ... She has been very kind to accept my pack which I sent ahead....even though I paid an astronomical amount to send it, there were more duties etc imposed by France which she paid. I know I have been more trouble than most....also the hotels in Pamplona have discounts for peregrinas BUT not during festival

 

[tomtom]

Hi, I get into biarritz at 14.45 on the 2nd. Would love to share a cab if there's still space?

 

[diverdavey]

Hi Tom Tom. That's 3 of us now. The cost is 72 euros divided by however many we become. I'll check with Lily B. as she was interested as well. Watch this space.

 

[tomtom]

Great! Thanks so much!

 

[diverdavey]

Hi Lily_B & Tomtom, the transport is booked now from Biarritz. Caroline from Express Bourricot says that she will endevour to get more souls on the transport as well. to get the price down. She or a driver will meet us in the arrivals hall. I'll pm you both my mobile number & surname that they will have posted. Cheers.

 

[diverdavey]

I'm all packed & raring to go now. My fitness level has dropped off quite a bit because I work offshore & I haven't had the opportunity to use the gym or go for long walks for the last 10 weeks. The confines of the vessel restricts me to a monotonous walk around the heli deck (after 5 laps I'm totally bored!).
I'm hoping I can regain my leg strength pretty quick & lose a few of my unwanted pounds early on in the camino.
I've also been reading the forum on summer footwear & have decided to ditch the evening wear of crocs & go for a pair of Teva hiking sandals that I can use to give my feet some air whilst walking during the day (I'm still using my Merrells as well) as well as on the evening. Does this make sense to you veterans?
Roll on Wednesday!!! Buen Camino to you all.