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Recent content by jgray4613

  1. J

    Train/bus from Biarritz to St. Jean Pied de Port

    Gretuka, From Biarritz take the bus to Bayonne station. You catch the bus right outside the airport and then take the direct train from Bayonne to SJPdP. trains leave at 7:45 11:10, 14:56 and 18:06 and take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. You can buy the tickets at the station.
  2. J

    How much weight did you actually carry?

    Ahhs, My daughter and I hiked from SJPDP in 2006. We used ultralight packs and including the weight of the pack, I carried 11 pounds (5 kg) and Caitling carried 12 pounds (5.5 kg). That was dry weight, with 3 L of water, that came to about 20 and 21 lbs. We were pretty brutal about what we...
  3. J

    Class of 2011

    Hola We, my daughter, son, daughter-in-law and I, are planning the Camino Portugues from Porto in late May and June of 2011 and then on to Fisterra. Everything is tentative right now and the exact timing depends on my son's graduation and wedding. My daughter and I did the Camino Frances...
  4. J

    Honto and Orisson

    From SJPP it's 5 km to Hounto and 8 km to Orisson. The 3 km between Hounto and Orisson are the steepest and include a km or so of the dreaded neverending switchbacks. But when you reach the table d'orientation you're almost at Orisson, so they actually do end. The nice thing about stopping...
  5. J

    Ankle-support: highly important or not

    Just a few points. I was just checking on baggage rules and according to the TSA you can't fly with gel inserts. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm I didn't buy a size larger and my feet swelled. It wasn't pleasant. You can buy orthopedic...
  6. J

    Hello It's Angela Solorzano - starting at St-Jean-Pied-de-Po

    Hi Angela: May I suggest making reservations in Orisson, http://www.refuge-orisson.com/, for your first night. It is 8 km from SJPP with the last 3 km or so being the hardest of the entire Pyrenees crossing. You can leave SJPP a little later and then you have most of the day in Orisson to...
  7. J

    Beginning my Camino Frances on April 15

    I thought I'd add my $.02. Pack weight. There are lots of ultralight backpacking sites on the web that you should check out! According to our bathroom scale, my daughter and I did SJPP to Santiago in 2006 at 11 lbs gear weight before adding water. 11 lbs or 5 kg base weight is easy, below...
  8. J

    plantar fasciitis

    Good to hear your PF is getting better. Several years ago I was developed PF. I tried treating myself - bad idea - eventually I could barely walk. I went to my doctor who sent me to a podiatrist. It took 3 or 4 months, several cortisone shots, custom orthotics and a regime of stretching...
  9. J

    Walking in April

    Hi Trish Gray My daughter and I walked in May-June last year so I can't offer much advice about April but I noticed your last name. Wanted to wish you buen camino. John Gray
  10. J

    Nervous and excited

    My daughter and I walked the camino last spring, also starting in late May from St Jean. It was a great time to start. Do pack light, there's not much you really need. I did take small digital camera that I used a lot. Do get good pair of lightweight hiking boots. Lots of info and...
  11. J

    My trip is october 5th 2006- and my main questions are...

    Leon is 320 km from Santiago. It's a great starting place. Plan to spend at least a day there sightseeing before you start. The cathedral alone is spectacular! And between Leon and Santiago there is quite a bit of diverse scenery and camino history along with 2 mountain ranges and the hills...
  12. J

    Route Napoleon

    I also suffer from vertigo. My daughter and I did the Route of Napoleon in May with no problems. We did it in 2 days stopping at Orisson (be sure to make a reservation). There are some drop offs along the trail but you never have to walk near them and the views are spectacular. John
  13. J

    Footwear Question

    Check out the Chaco Z-1 hiking sandal, they seem to be very popular with backpackers here even on long distance hikes like the AT or PCT. I'm not daring enough to try but they look interesting. I own a pair of heavy leather boots as well as pair of light weight boots but except in extreme...
  14. J

    physical fitness - need opinion

    Karms, Try walking a little further each day. 5 km a day or 2.5 each way isn't really enough to bring out any problems. You want to do 2 things, improve your overall fitness and find out if there are any problems. Better to find out at home where you have a chance of fixing them than...
  15. J

    Hello from Fairfax VA, USA

    I just saw another thread on deciphering spanish menus. We can follow that thread and see what people have to say. Maybe we can compile a list when we are on our camino and contribute it. Tomorrow a group of us are going to lunch at a local Brazilian restaurant. Since I speak a little...
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