April 17, 2015 - Camino de Santiago Here I Come!

[L Squared]

The non-refundable air tickets have now been purchased so I can't change my plans. Phoenix to Madrid, April 15 returning June 3 - total of 7 weeks which should be enough if all goes well. I will arrive Madrid April 16 and bus or train to Pamplona. Then hope to do the Corizon Puro transfer from Pamplona, overnight at Corizon Puro then transfer to SJPdP. So my official start in SJPdeP will be April 17.

I ordered my pilgrim passport. I think I have everything I need but I'll post my packing list before I go. I expect to come in at around 14-15 pounds.
I've been doing quite a bit of walking so I've got Keen shoes that are working for me and my backup Teva's are also feeling great so I think my footwear should be manageable.

The only thing I've got to do is to purchase my travel insurance.

I could never have done this without the forum. I would have taken absolutely the wrong equipment and not budgeted enough time if I hadn't stumbled upon Ivar's Camino de Santiago Forum site. Thanks Ivar and thanks to everyone else.

I'll be starting this journey alone but I hope to meet lots of forum members along the Way!
Laura

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

The non-refundable air tickets have now been purchased so I can't change my plans. Phoenix to Madrid, April 15 returning June 3 - total of 7 weeks which should be enough if all goes well. I will arrive Madrid April 16 and bus or train to Pamplona. Then hope to do the Corizon Puro transfer from Pamplona, overnight at Corizon Puro then transfer to SJPdP. So my official start in SJPdeP will be April 17.

I ordered my pilgrim passport. I think I have everything I need but I'll post my packing list before I go. I expect to come in at around 14-15 pounds.
I've been doing quite a bit of walking so I've got Keen shoes that are working for me and my backup Teva's are also feeling great so I think my footwear should be manageable.

The only thing I've got to do is to purchase my travel insurance.

I could never have done this without the forum. I would have taken absolutely the wrong equipment and not budgeted enough time if I hadn't stumbled upon Ivar's Camino de Santiago Forum site. Thanks Ivar and thanks to everyone else.

I'll be starting this journey alone but I hope to meet lots of forum members along the Way!
Laura

Hy Laura , i arrive the 17th. of april in sjpdp . Start the 18th. and walk to the alberque Orisson and sleep there.Hope to meet you during the first week . Wish you a Buen Camino .

 

[RobertS26]

I fly out of Seattle on April 15th. Will start walking out of SJPP on April 17th. Return flight on June 3rd. Buen Camino.

 

[L Squared]

Hy Laura , i arrive the 17th. of april in sjpdp . Start the 18th. and walk to the alberque Orisson and sleep there.Hope to meet you during the first week . Wish you a Buen Camino .

Peter,
Yes I hope to meet you on the Way. Since you have booked the night in Orrison you must be expecting the Napoleon route to be open. I suppose I need to decide soon if I want to take the Napoleon route or the Valcarlos route because I would need to book a bed at Orrison if I choose the Napoleon route.
Buen camino,
Laura

 

[L Squared]

I fly out of Seattle on April 15th. Will start walking out of SJPP on April 17th. Return flight on June 3rd. Buen Camino.

Robert,
You will be traveling the exact same days as I. I see this is your third Camino, all on the Camino Frances. Now I'm feeling confident that I have allotted enough time for my Camino. You must like the CF if this is the third time you are doing this route. Do you have a preference for routes out of SJPdP - Napoleon or Valcarlos? Which route out of SJPdP are you planning on taking on your April 2015 camino?
Buen camino,
Laura

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I would need to book a bed at Orrison if I choose the Napoleon route.

The Forum is very "pro-Orisson," but remember that there are 43 beds there (including Kayola), so the rest of the hundreds each day walk on to Roncesvalles. It is no where near impossible; just follow the advice to take care of your feet, hydrate, and take rests.

 

[tyrrek]

You've chosen a beautiful time of year to do it. Buen Camino!

 

[Chris White]

Hi Everyone,
My Wife and I (from Australia) are looking to start around May 10th from St Jean Pied De Port. We were originally going to start in April as well, but as we are travelling from so far away, didn't want to risk the chance that snow may affect the first part of the journey. Do you experienced members see snow over the Napoleon route an issue in April???

 

[tyrrek]

Do you experienced members see snow over the Napoleon route an issue in April???

Hi Chris. From my limited experience there was snow in early March 2012 but none in Mid-April 2011. By April I'm guessing it's fairly unusual to see really disruptive snow, but there will undoubtedly be years where winter has a last hoorah when we all think it's over! Buen Camino!
P.s. It was still passable in March 2012 despite the snow.

 

[wayfarer]

The Napoleon was closed on the 18th April 2012 when we left St. Jean so we took the Valcarlos route, at that time of year it can go either way. I would agree with falcon, the vast majority walk to Roncesvalles the first day using either of the routes, just take it nice and easy. We left St Jean at 08.20 and arrived Roncesvalles at 16.00 via Valcarlos taking several breaks along the way.
Buen Camino

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter,
Yes I hope to meet you on the Way. Since you have booked the night in Orrison you must be expecting the Napoleon route to be open. I suppose I need to decide soon if I want to take the Napoleon route or the Valcarlos route because I would need to book a bed at Orrison if I choose the Napoleon route.
Buen camino,
Laura

Laura , i hope the Napoleon route is open it is so up there ( my wife said , she did the camino in 2013 )
Buen Camino , Peter

 

[L Squared]

Now less than a month a way. I'm getting very excited to begin this journey.
I've purchased my trip insurance, rail ticket from Madrid to Pamplona and have a reservation for Corozon Puro for the night of 4/16/15. Just stitched my Camino patches onto my backpack and changed my avatar.
Just hoping for good weather out of SJPdP.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Now less than a month a way. I'm getting very excited to begin this journey.
I've purchased my trip insurance, rail ticket from Madrid to Pamplona and have a reservation for Corozon Puro for the night of 4/16/15. Just stitched my Camino patches onto my backpack and changed my avatar.
Just hoping for good weather out of SJPdP.

Hi Lauren , I'am hoping for good weather as well. The napoleon route is now close. We will see in 4 weeks time.Wish you a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Now less than a month a way. I'm getting very excited to begin this journey.
I've purchased my trip insurance, rail ticket from Madrid to Pamplona and have a reservation for Corozon Puro for the night of 4/16/15. Just stitched my Camino patches onto my backpack and changed my avatar.
Just hoping for good weather out of SJPdP.

p.s. also stitched my forum patch and the patch of our st.James community in Holland .

 

[Wiebmer]

The non-refundable air tickets have now been purchased so I can't change my plans. Phoenix to Madrid, April 15 returning June 3 - total of 7 weeks which should be enough if all goes well. I will arrive Madrid April 16 and bus or train to Pamplona. Then hope to do the Corizon Puro transfer from Pamplona, overnight at Corizon Puro then transfer to SJPdP. So my official start in SJPdeP will be April 17.

I ordered my pilgrim passport. I think I have everything I need but I'll post my packing list before I go. I expect to come in at around 14-15 pounds.
I've been doing quite a bit of walking so I've got Keen shoes that are working for me and my backup Teva's are also feeling great so I think my footwear should be manageable.

The only thing I've got to do is to purchase my travel insurance.

I could never have done this without the forum. I would have taken absolutely the wrong equipment and not budgeted enough time if I hadn't stumbled upon Ivar's Camino de Santiago Forum site. Thanks Ivar and thanks to everyone else.

I'll be starting this journey alone but I hope to meet lots of forum members along the Way!
Laura

Laura -- John and I will be starting the same day as you. I hope we see you in SJPdP....or along the way. I'll have this patch on my coat:

 

[L Squared]

Great, I'll Be staying at corazon puro the night of April 16. I'll be driven to SjPdP early and will start walking April 17. I will not be staying at Orrison as I have not made reservations. May stay in Valcarlos. Hope to see you along the Camino. My avatar in a picture of my pack.
Laura

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Great, I'll Be staying at corazon puro the night of April 16. I'll be driven to SjPdP early and will start walking April 17. I will not be staying at Orrison as I have not made reservations. May stay in Valcarlos. Hope to see you along the Camino. My avatar in a picture of my pack.
Laura

We have a few days to go before our walk to Santiago starts. I arrive in Sjpdp at about 19.30 at the 17th.The next day I walk till the albergue Orisson.
When everything is going well at the 19th. I don't stay in Roncesvalles , I walk till Auritz or Aurizberri . I wish you well and have a great walk over
the Pyrenees . Buen Camino , Peter .

 

[L Squared]

Peter,
Safe travels and buen camino! I'll get to SJPdP around 8:30 on April 17. I did not make a reservation at Orrison and am planning to take the Valcarlos route. I may stay in Valcarlos or depending on how I'm doing may go to Roncesvalles. If I do stay in Valcarlos then I'll probably walk further than Roncesvalles the next day. I'm really not in a hurry and hope to stay in between the Brierly guide daily endpoints once I get used to walking. I hope to see you along the way. Look for my pack - It is a royal blue Gregory with camino patches and a yellow Picachu.
I'm getting very excited to start my journey!
Laura

 

[L Squared]

My airline changed my flights which meant that the time between flights on my layover in Newark was only 45 minutes. So changed my flight to leave 12 hours earlier. I won't arrive in Madrid any earlier but at least now I'm make my connection in Newark to Madrid with 13 hours to spare. So I'm heading to the airport to catch my red-eye in about 1/2 hours. Buen Camino and see everyone in Spain soon! Can't wait to start my journey!

 

[Wiebmer]

The non-refundable air tickets have now been purchased so I can't change my plans. Phoenix to Madrid, April 15 returning June 3 - total of 7 weeks which should be enough if all goes well. I will arrive Madrid April 16 and bus or train to Pamplona. Then hope to do the Corizon Puro transfer from Pamplona, overnight at Corizon Puro then transfer to SJPdP. So my official start in SJPdeP will be April 17.

I ordered my pilgrim passport. I think I have everything I need but I'll post my packing list before I go. I expect to come in at around 14-15 pounds.
I've been doing quite a bit of walking so I've got Keen shoes that are working for me and my backup Teva's are also feeling great so I think my footwear should be manageable.

The only thing I've got to do is to purchase my travel insurance.

I could never have done this without the forum. I would have taken absolutely the wrong equipment and not budgeted enough time if I hadn't stumbled upon Ivar's Camino de Santiago Forum site. Thanks Ivar and thanks to everyone else.

I'll be starting this journey alone but I hope to meet lots of forum members along the Way!
Laura

Laura - It's Ning. John and I would love to take you to lunch tomorrow in Pamploma (Tuesday April 21st).

How about the Cafe Iruna on the plaza del Castillo #44 at 1?

Hope it will work for you... N

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter,
Safe travels and buen camino! I'll get to SJPdP around 8:30 on April 17. I did not make a reservation at Orrison and am planning to take the Valcarlos route. I may stay in Valcarlos or depending on how I'm doing may go to Roncesvalles. If I do stay in Valcarlos then I'll probably walk further than Roncesvalles the next day. I'm really not in a hurry and hope to stay in between the Brierly guide daily endpoints once I get used to walking. I hope to see you along the way. Look for my pack - It is a royal blue Gregory with camino patches and a yellow Picachu.
I'm getting very excited to start my journey!
Laura

Hy Laura, at the moment i'm in Zubiri. Tomorrow I'm in Pamplona so I hope to catch up with you during the coming week , wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[L Squared]

Laura - It's Ning. John and I would love to take you to lunch tomorrow in Pamploma (Tuesday April 21st).

How about the Cafe Iruna on the plaza del Castillo #44 at 1?

Hope it will work for you... N

p

I will see you there. - Laura

 

[L Squared]

Hy Laura, at the moment i'm in Zubiri. Tomorrow I'm in Pamplona so I hope to catch up with you during the coming week , wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

Peter,
Hope to see you tonight in Pamplona. I will be the slow moving pilgrim wearing a dark blue long skirt. I'm staying in the Plaza Castillo area.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Peter,
Hope to see you tonight in Pamplona. I will be the slow moving pilgrim wearing a dark blue long skirt. I'm staying in the Plaza Castillo area.

Hi Laura, we feld good today so we walked to the next town. Probably we stay for 2 days in Puenta de La Reina. Mabe I see you there. Wish you well, Peter.