Hi Jo
Nice to hear from you. Its been well over a year since my Camino, so I shall answer your questions as best I can...
I did indeed complete my Camino. I actually started walking from St Jean Pied de Port on 1st March 2017. It took me 33 days to reach Santiago and a further 3 days to reach my goal of Finisterre. I wanted to avoid the crowds and the hot weather, which was why I commenced the journey early in the year. It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every day that I was out on the trail. The weather was mostly good - cold in the early mornings where I would wear my jacket, woolen hat and gloves, but by midday the temperatures would be comfortable enough to take those items off. I probably experienced a total of five days were it rained heavily and a couple of days where I walked through snow storms (approaching and leaving Rabanal). For the most part, the people I met enroute were lovely, helpful folk and I found that I actually became a lot more tolerant and patient as a person - which surprised myself given the sometimes uncomfortable beds and inevitable snorers that deprived me of many hours of sleep!
One common mistake that I saw so many people make was arriving at the start of their Camino having done very little in the way of preparation. They often had not done any serious 'practice' walks in advance, had not bought the appropriate footwear, had packed far too much weight in their backpacks etc. Planning ahead is really important - so its worth doing your homework before embarking on your trip. Apart from this very helpful Forum, there are a number of books that you may consider purchasing in advance of your trip. I would recommend
John Brierley's 'Pilgrim Guide To The
Camino De Santiago (available on Amazon - I actually reviewed the 13th edition on 14th May 2017 under my profile name of Siltone). In addition, there is also a very useful publication entitled 'Pilgrim Tips & Packing List -
Camino de Santiago by S.Yates - this is also available on Amazon and I reviewed it on 27th May 2017. Be sure to click the 'Helpful' button if you like either of these book recommendations!
As regards me doing the Camino again, that's a tough question. I had a great time doing it but I generally don't try to 'redo' things. Physically and mentally I'm up for undertaking another Camino but would have to pick a totally different route - maybe via Portugal.
Train times can obviously change throughout the year, so you would be best to check the latest French timetables. One thing I do recall was that I bought my ticket from a machine at Bayonne train station the night BEFORE leaving Bayonne. The machine was in French but I still managed to work out how to purchase a ticket from it using my credit card. My train left around 7.30am the next morning and the station was very busy with commuters - so it was less stressful to have a pre-purchased ticket. I got to St Jean Pied de Port mid-morning and stayed at a local hostel. This meant I had an almost full day to explore the picturesque town itself and walk up and around the citadel. Staying the night in St Jean Pied de Port meant I was refreshed and could get an early start the next day when I walked directly to Roncesvalles.
I hope this information helps you Jo. Walking the Camino is a terrific thing to do and I wish you all the very best. If I can be of any further assistance, don't hesitate to contact me via the Forum.
Happy travelling
Toncho