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They are a typical money making private Alberque that scrimp in things like soap in the toilets, but are in a much needed position, which they exploit: but stay there it's worth it!
The oldest occupation in the world knew all about a "much need position" ...
Hello!
Hope you don't all mind me posting a few more questions on this forum about our first camino. These are the main points that we are looking for advice/help on at the moment:
Thank you, and any help or advise is extremely appreciated! We are very much excited and looking forward to our camino, but apprehensive of the challenges we are going to face!
- We note that day one from SJPdP is (can be) a long one, would people advise doing the full 25.1km to Roncesvalles, or just just ease ourselves in gently and do the 7.8km to Orisson? Are there any other options in the middle of those two!?
- We will be starting our camino in the 2nd week of September so the weather should still be pretty good. Would people advise a pair of sunglasses, and if so is it worth spending a fair amount of money on a decent pair?!
- As we are starting to think about our pack weight we come to the question of Waterproofs, and whether to take them . We are hoping that the weather should still be pretty fair at the time of our camino, so a few people have mentioned the idea of just taking a poncho for if and when the rain comes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
- Do we need to take any form of eating utensils (bowl/plate/ cutlery etc)?
- Any further suggestions on foot help, balms or crazy lotions that I can take/make for my feet would be very much appreciated!
They often are busy and hard to contact. This time of year they are quite full. A phone call would work if you have some French skills. They do ask for a confirming phone call from SJPdP, so you can have the Pilgrim Office call for you. An alternative is the Valcarlos route with the albergue midway in Valcarlos. It also has great views and a bit more shade. Another alternative if Orisson is closed is to walk to it, take a taxi back to SJPdP, then a taxi the next morning back to Orisson.Has anyone else had trouble with contacting them, or does anyone know a better way for us to try to confirm our reservation with them? Our french is somewhat patchy (to say the least!) so am hesitant to call them.
We walked in May. I had a hat, sunglasses,umbrella, rain jacket and backpack cover. We had quite a few days of heavy rain but this combination kept me dry. We tried to book at Orisson but they were full and they refered us to Kayola which they also own. It was very nice though we had to walk to Orisson for meals. It took them about a week to respond to my emailed enquiry. I carried wo pairs of prescription sunglasses and two pairs of regular glasses. One pair broke so I was pleased to have a back up until I got to the next town with an optometrist who did repairs for me. I took a spork and a mug for my road side snacks and drinks. Especially the wine fountain at Irache.Thank you all for your replies and offering of great information! It is certainly going to help! Our departure day is edging closer now and we are really excited to get started.
We decided that, having not done anything like this before, we are going to stop at Orisson on day one if we can, so as not to over exert ourselves before we even get chance to get into our Camino properly. I have contacted the albergue at Orisson via the form on their website twice, and sent them an email to their email address refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr but have had no response from them (this contact has all been made over the last week or so). We are now getting concerned that we are going to have no choice but to walk the full stage on Day 1. Has anyone else had trouble with contacting them, or does anyone know a better way for us to try to confirm our reservation with them? Our french is somewhat patchy (to say the least!) so am hesitant to call them.
Thanks again!
greetings...Hello!
Hope you don't all mind me posting a few more questions on this forum about our first camino. These are the main points that we are looking for advice/help on at the moment:
Thank you, and any help or advise is extremely appreciated! We are very much excited and looking forward to our camino, but apprehensive of the challenges we are going to face!
- We note that day one from SJPdP is (can be) a long one, would people advise doing the full 25.1km to Roncesvalles, or just just ease ourselves in gently and do the 7.8km to Orisson? Are there any other options in the middle of those two!?
- We will be starting our camino in the 2nd week of September so the weather should still be pretty good. Would people advise a pair of sunglasses, and if so is it worth spending a fair amount of money on a decent pair?!
- As we are starting to think about our pack weight we come to the question of Waterproofs, and whether to take them . We are hoping that the weather should still be pretty fair at the time of our camino, so a few people have mentioned the idea of just taking a poncho for if and when the rain comes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
- Do we need to take any form of eating utensils (bowl/plate/ cutlery etc)?
- Any further suggestions on foot help, balms or crazy lotions that I can take/make for my feet would be very much appreciated!
Fabulous advice! All questions I had myself.hcsut,
Just outside SJPDP is the village of Hunto. It's about half way to Orrison. I would suggest you make your first stop at Orisson. September is a great time of year and you won't be disappointed. Call now if that's your druthers: http://www.refuge-orisson.com/auberge_compostelle_pays_basque_contact.php
Buy a pair of cheap glasses that you like. I have broken so many pair while hiking, I should own stock.
Waterproofs, even the new models, are a hassle to get on and off and, in a short time...even in a good shower, you begin to feel incased in material. I have always used an Altus poncho. It covers your pack, have plenty of ventilation and is light weight.
No utensils needed. Hey, a bocadillo is finger food.
I make sure my boots are well broken in and the right size. I wear sock liners to reduce chafing, especially should my feet become wet. Should that happen, I immediately change to a dry pair. Vaseline rubbed on the feet prior to putting on socks (I know, who would do the reverse)will also reduce friction. The key is to immediately stop walking should your feet start to experience "hot spots", reapply the vaseline.
Ask any other questions as they come along.
Buen Camino,
Arn
Hello!
Hope you don't all mind me posting a few more questions on this forum about our first camino. These are the main points that we are looking for advice/help on at the moment:
Thank you, and any help or advise is extremely appreciated! We are very much excited and looking forward to our camino, but apprehensive of the challenges we are going to face!
- We note that day one from SJPdP is (can be) a long one, would people advise doing the full 25.1km to Roncesvalles, or just just ease ourselves in gently and do the 7.8km to Orisson? Are there any other options in the middle of those two!?
Hi Jim, that you so much for your post. I am BRAND new here and will be traveling from Boston with my son upon his graduation from college in 2017. Your post and words about the sea will resonate within me and nl doubt, will echo 3 years from now. Thank you. Thank you to everyone for ALL your valuable opinions and experience.greetings...
i vote for the poncho. in light drizzle you can just drape it over your pack and shoulders so your frontal body remains aerated.resonate that a lot.
general utensils - no. but bring a switchblade for lunch in the field. and if you plan on doing some cooking as well as eating the menu del dia it's convenient as the albergues often don't have cutting knives.
everyone's body reacts a little differently. this may not be pleasant dinner table talk but i experienced terrible raw heat rash in my inner thighs/groin area. bringing a tube of vaseline and applying it every morning and on an occasional afternoon really worked and made the day much more pleasant. some people lube their feet every morning with a little vaseline as well, though i never did. my last pair of boots had, if i remember now, a fabric lining. not good for me. created friction and blisters along the achilles. ended up buying some electrical tape, lining the backs of the boots with that and that reduced the friction. you'll come up with your own DIY tricks.
one more thing - and again everyone is different and this is my opinion... but the Meseta is roughly the midway point. not only is it halfway when a deep fatigue sets in, but it's also a powerful open expanse that can pull the spirit thin to the snapping point. i experienced this the first time. later i was aware of it and nurtured myself against it (awareness is a powerful tool) but i did observe many first timers wracked/crumbling/tearful... it's part of the experience, but you do not have to suffer from it. it also makes entering the lushness of galicia that much more wonderful.
if you have time - please walk to finisterre. the experience of the mass in santiago is tremendous... to celebrate with all those pilgrims who have come so far is unifying in the human experience. but man, to walk to the sea... to see the sea for the first time after all those individual footsteps and know you can go no further... to spend a day on the cliffs listening to the tide crash and cleanse your soul is something primordial and beyond what you will ever be able to express when your are asked 'how was you trip?'
i wish you a meaningful journey
jim
Hi Jim, that you so much for your post. I am BRAND new here and will be traveling from Boston with my son upon his graduation from college in 2017. Your post and words about the sea will resonate within me and nl doubt, will echo 3 years from now. Thank you. Thank you to everyone for ALL your valuable opinions and experience.
Thanks again for everyone's help - we are getting there with our packing list!!
We have still not been able to manage to reserve our night stay at Orisson, and a few have mentioned the alternative route via Valcarlos. This is one we are considering, as we really dont want to damage ourselves walking all the way to Roncesvalles on the first day. Does anyone have any further advice on this route? Would it be worth doing? I have heard that route is mainly main road, is this the case? If so, is the traffic heavy etc? Really want to see some scenic bits rather than spending our first day walking down the side of a motorway!!
I'm sure the wait will have been worth it. Buen CaminoHow exciting to be planning your Camino in 2017. We have been planning ours since February 2012 - and we have enjoyed the planning and anticipation so much. It is almost scary that we leave next week!! This forum is a gem - I'm sure you'll learn so much - and be well entertained too! Good luck!
how long did it take you to walk from Orrisson the Roncesvallles?Orisson is beautifully placed with a stunning view of the Pyrenees. I wish I had spent the night there, just for the experience of spending the night there. However, I also enjoyed the walk up from SJPDP and staying in SJPDP the night before. So I don't think there's a wrong way, just a way. I would say a reasonably fit person should have no issues walking from SJPDP.
how long did it take you to walk from Orrisson the Roncesvallles?
Somewhere between 2.5 to 3 hours, but I walk very slowly, especially with a backpack.
so do you know how long for the average walker it would takeI think you mean from SJPP to Orisson in 2,5-3 hours. If you walk Orisson to Roncesvalles in 2,5 hours (thats impossible) your even faster then i am, and thats not slow at all
I think you mean from SJPP to Orisson in 2,5-3 hours. If you walk Orisson to Roncesvalles in 2,5 hours (thats impossible) your even faster then i am, and thats not slow at all
so do you know how long for the average walker it would take
I agree with most of the advise given to you. I would try to book Orission. Why rush over the Pyrenees? The views are magnificent. Why do 25-27km on your the first day!Hello!
Hope you don't all mind me posting a few more questions on this forum about our first camino. These are the main points that we are looking for advice/help on at the moment:
Thank you, and any help or advise is extremely appreciated! We are very much excited and looking forward to our camino, but apprehensive of the challenges we are going to face!
- We note that day one from SJPdP is (can be) a long one, would people advise doing the full 25.1km to Roncesvalles, or just just ease ourselves in gently and do the 7.8km to Orisson? Are there any other options in the middle of those two!?
- We will be starting our camino in the 2nd week of September so the weather should still be pretty good. Would people advise a pair of sunglasses, and if so is it worth spending a fair amount of money on a decent pair?!
- As we are starting to think about our pack weight we come to the question of Waterproofs, and whether to take them . We are hoping that the weather should still be pretty fair at the time of our camino, so a few people have mentioned the idea of just taking a poncho for if and when the rain comes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
- Do we need to take any form of eating utensils (bowl/plate/ cutlery etc)?
- Any further suggestions on foot help, balms or crazy lotions that I can take/make for my feet would be very much appreciated!
I am so excited for you. I did my first Camino last year leaving SJPdP on Sept. 13th. What an amazing journey. I would suggest staying at Orisson if you can get a room ahead of time. Not only will it make your first couple of day easier but sitting out on the deck at Orisson and watch the Griffon Vultures flying is one of my favorite memories. If I could share anything from my hike it would be to think hard about your footwear. I wore hiking sandles and never had a bad day feet wise. I met so many who more boots because they read you can't hike without them. So many of them has horrible blisters and even cried in the mornings. I would suggest if you wear boots to go easy. But whatever you do enjoy every minute.Hello!
Hope you don't all mind me posting a few more questions on this forum about our first camino. These are the main points that we are looking for advice/help on at the moment:
Thank you, and any help or advise is extremely appreciated! We are very much excited and looking forward to our camino, but apprehensive of the challenges we are going to face!
- We note that day one from SJPdP is (can be) a long one, would people advise doing the full 25.1km to Roncesvalles, or just just ease ourselves in gently and do the 7.8km to Orisson? Are there any other options in the middle of those two!?
- We will be starting our camino in the 2nd week of September so the weather should still be pretty good. Would people advise a pair of sunglasses, and if so is it worth spending a fair amount of money on a decent pair?!
- As we are starting to think about our pack weight we come to the question of Waterproofs, and whether to take them . We are hoping that the weather should still be pretty fair at the time of our camino, so a few people have mentioned the idea of just taking a poncho for if and when the rain comes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
- Do we need to take any form of eating utensils (bowl/plate/ cutlery etc)?
- Any further suggestions on foot help, balms or crazy lotions that I can take/make for my feet would be very much appreciated!
Thank you Skudah. You are correct. Ever since we make the commitment to each other to go ..... we want to go right now, we're so excited. I am enjoying thos site a lot.How exciting to be planning your Camino in 2017. We have been planning ours since February 2012 - and we have enjoyed the planning and anticipation so much. It is almost scary that we leave next week!! This forum is a gem - I'm sure you'll learn so much - and be well entertained too! Good luck!
According to our little rug rat: all food is finger food whenever you want it to be ☺
Totally love rich posts like yours Heather. Keeps the heart of the forum ticking.
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