Tumbleweed
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2013)
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I remember this man a refuge of shade, oj and a hard boiled egg. What a refreshing site, everyone stopped for nourishment. God bless him for being there.The Man In The White Van was there in late June 2013. I had no problem spending €.50 each for hard boiled eggs and the coffee hit the spot too. He is the last sello in France before entering Spain.
Hi DurhamParish,
I see you'll be walking in April. I believe sunset is a bit after 20:00 during that time. This is probably something to take into consideration for you and others so as to not wander around in the dark on the first day. So leaving late afternoon could work out quite nicely for a stop at Orisson for many.
I'm excited for you!
Haha, I chuckle only because when I arrived in Roncesvalles, my head immedialty hit the pillow. When I woke after a few hours I pulled the bocadillo that I got in Orrison from my backpack, went outside and had the best meal on the Camino. I can't say the best meal ever, that was in Florence, Italy.Orisson's bocadillo was very simple fare, but as I ate it hungrily about 10:30 am, alone in high winds near the Spanish border and wondering why no one was catching up with me, it was just about the best damn meal I've ever had.
Bill
My husband and I are going to start the Camino somewhere around May 1...You mention here that you have emailed them(I assume the albergue in Orrison?) to book your spot? Didn't know that was available....can you provide info?I think I've decided to stop for all the reasons mentioned above. I've already emailed them to book my spot. Thank you. This forum has been invaluable to me! - M :arrow:
See this previous thread: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/reservations-at-orrisson.18046/#p132323My husband and I are going to start the Camino somewhere around May 1...You mention here that you have emailed them(I assume the albergue in Orrison?) to book your spot? Didn't know that was available....can you provide info?
1. you have time to make friends at Orisson, and the friends you make will be with you on and off all the way to Santiago
2. it's a steep walk but you can breakfast in St Jean at a reasonable hour and be at Orisson by lunchtime
3. that leaves the afternoon for making an attempt to overcome the shyness, chatting on the deck, resting, or having a few drinks
4. at the communal dinner we were asked to stand one by one and introduce ourselves - a bit intimidating? - those who looked the most nervous did it the best - and all of us were amazed at the countries and personalities represented in that room - I hope they still do that
Hi Nancy -- My husband and I have reservations at Orisson on May 1st. Maybe we will see you there!My husband and I are going to start the Camino somewhere around May 1...You mention here that you have emailed them(I assume the albergue in Orrison?) to book your spot? Didn't know that was available....can you provide info?
The ritual introductions they do at dinner also go a very long way towards forming your Camino Family for the next month or so.
Hi Nancy -- My husband and I have reservations at Orisson on May 1st. Maybe we will see you there!
On my first Camino I stayed over at Orisson. It was a very positive experience with a dinner where everybody stood up an presented oneself and the reason for walking the Camino. The next walk to Roncesvalles was not so hard.I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
Hmmm...I'm confused! When I look at a map it says that Orisson is only 2k from SJPP? But here people seem to say it's about a 2.5 hour walk...
It's all a matter of fitness and personal preference so there is no need to get paranoid about elevation, distance, age, etc etc etc you can go on and on. Just do it most of our apprehensions are just opportunities in disguise. I was over 70 at my first Camino and arrived in SJPDP and visited the office du pelerin, they gave the all clear for the route Napoleon on the next day. I left with a Canadian pilgrim at 06.32 and arrived in Roncevalles at 12.03, a superb day, superb views with plenty of photos. I will however add that my arrival in SJPDP was on my 50 th day of my Camino so by then even at 70 I was fairly fit.It's 8 km away and about a 700m gain in elevation.
. . . I will however add that my arrival in SJPDP was on my 50 th day of my Camino so by then even at 70 I was fairly fit.
Moni, I see that this was posted back in 2012. Did you end up staying in Orisson the first night? ~AlyssaThank you. I plan to start from SJPdP on May 29. I'm a pretty task-oriented person, which is probably my true motivation for getting to Roncesvalles in one day. I forgot to consider the down-hill, and from all I have read it would probably do me well, in more ways than one, to take my time getting to Orisson and just enjoy. And who knows, my 32 euro may be the best investment I make. -M :arrow:
MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF THE PILGRIM OFFICE EVEN IF THEY SAY IT IS OPEN.hi! i'm in SJPP right now, I'm booked at orisson for Monday, and I'm hoping to make it. They told me that the napoleon route is closed due to snow earlier in the week, but I'm hopeful it will be clear by monday/tuesday as the temperatures are up a bit... If not, I guess the Valcarlos route will have to do...
MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF THE PILGRIM OFFICE EVEN IF THEY SAY IT IS OPEN.
Hi,
Just to reiterate visit the Pilgrims Office in St Jean, if their advice is DO NOT GO VIA THE ROUTE NAPOLEON take their advice. Last year I know of two separate pilgrims who thought they knew better......................unfortunately they did not...................neither did they reach Roncevalles.
And here' stage memorial stone to one of them.......
View attachment 8971
thank you Tio Ray... I will be taking it easy, so we may catch up somewhere along the way!Geralbc, Good luck getting up the hill. I arrive in SJPP on the 3rd of April and will be on the trail around noon. Take care and have fun.
Getting on the trail "around noon" is probably too late, especially with inclement weather. I hope you're planning to stop in Orisson, or that you're stopping around Valcarlos (depending on which route you take). Otherwise, you might be risking a trailside plaque yourself . . .Geralbc, Good luck getting up the hill. I arrive in SJPP on the 3rd of April and will be on the trail around noon. Take care and have fun.
That "short little walk", took us six hours. It really depends on how much you've walked and how fast you climb. If you're very experienced it's probably 2.5 hours. The bulk of the walkers we saw were in the four to six hour range getting there. I talked to a number of people who had never done this before and were a little surprised at how much harder it was than it looked in "The Way". Another variable is how much you're carrying.Gee, this is a great thread. I'm now hooked on the idea of stopping and I hadn't even given it much consideration before. So now, I'm thinking of arriving in SJPP, checking in at Les Pyrenees for a last day of rest and boning up. Didn't know that Orisson was only 2.5 hours up though. That's a pretty short little walk. Hope the weather is good towards the end of April. AL
Takes me about 3 hours to get from SJPP to Orisson.
The Man in the Van was there in May and June! Oh WAIT! That was LAST May and June 2012! He wasn't there this year? This year, I walked part of the VDLP then jumped up to Pamplona onto the Frances. So I didn't walk to Orisson this year.
This year I did see a Man in a Van at the top of Perdon, though. First time I've seen him there.
That "short little walk", took us six hours. It really depends on how much you've walked and how fast you climb. If you're very experienced it's probably 2.5 hours. The bulk of the walkers we saw were in the four to six hour range getting there. I talked to a number of people who had never done this before and were a little surprised at how much harder it was than it looked in "The Way". Another variable is how much you're carrying.
If you have done a lot of preparation then you can do it in one day but if not I would recommend stopping in Orisson. I did it last year from St Jean, had not done enough preparation and found my legs were really sore for about three days afterwards. On reflection, should have done more preparation. Ideally if your travel allows, walk to Orisson on the day you arrive.I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
Refuge Orisson so I have already got in contact with them via their website and booked a place. .... If you are going to stay there, it's probably a good idea to book as far in advance as possible, as there's only room for 18 people there.
Yes, we were reimbursed when the Route Napoleon was closed. In fact, Orrison was closed too because of the weather. Notice of our reimbursement via PayPal came through straightaway by email which I received en route. The only hiccup with this, as I recall, was that PayPal allows you 30 days to ‘accept’ your reimbursement. Since I was not prepared for this and did not have access to my PayPal account (couldn’t remember the password), I had to get a message to the Orrison proprietor to please wait until I returned home (in 45 days' time) before putting through this transaction again. There was no problem here; Jean Jacques, the Orrison proprietor, is very accommodating.Since we are on the Orrisson theme, what happens if you have a booking and due to extreme weather, the Napoleon Route is closed. Do we get reimbursed?
Just sent an email to Orisson to reserve a bed for the first night of my camino (second night of my trip). Very excited. This is really happening.
I'm one day ahead of you, t2andreo. I came down with a cold yesterday, so have stopped over in Belorado for extra rest. Back at it tomorrow. Gave had near perfect weather so far, and met great new friends. In Santo Domingo, the climb up the cathedral tower was well worth the extra Euro or so. Photo blog at CyrusNWhite.com.I am presently at Santo Domingo de la Calzada, making my way to Santiago. I was at Orisson the night of the 27th April. They did NOT do the introduction "round-table" thing as in the past.
Nonetheless, I still managed to link up with people I previously knew only through this forum. Among those members I've met and shared a meal or a stink with are: AlexWalker, BiarritzDon, BritChick and Vera (from the NL). Charming and interesting people one and all. Through them I also met a lot of new people and spread the word about the forum.
I am also making a point of trying to exchange contact information with anyone who is interested. As I am moving west faster than most, I have offered to be the advance scout if asked a question by text.
After this Camino, I plan to write about what worked, what did not, and about all the mistakes I made, as well as the new, improved information I stumbled across along The Way.
BTW, I just shipped my THIRD box of crap to Ivar. The total weight sent ahead so far is about 5.1 kg, or about 11.2 pounds! What the heck was I thinking?
Stay tuned....
I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
In my opinion, reports of wild dogs along the Camino Frances or overrated. I totally understand that some people relate to dogs differently than others, but I cannot remember a single unleashed dog along the way that was not either friendly or indifferent toward passing pilgrims. Yes, there were barking dogs within fenced gardens and houses, but they posed no threat other than the nuisance of the noise they created. I would not, however, enter a private property, even if it were unfenced, wherein a resident dog showed any signs of aggression. Dogs are very territorial, and even an otherwise docile dog's personality can quickly change if he perceives that "his" property is being threatened.... I think I will manage, but in what way? Sleeping in Albergs, snoring from other pilgrims, wild dogs ..and so on. A college has told me of many wild dogs along the way. I haven`t read anything about problems towards wild dogs. Have any of you heard of such problems?!
I feel I have to add a small imput re:my start from SDPP.April 26th. As a 79 yr old with hardly any training (75miles only) I'm really glad I booked into Orrison. The-following day was-horrible a constant heavy rain a fierce wind and very cold. My poncho was torn in half by the wind, but I must stress a wonderful comedic irishman kept me going with his jokes. Now after 8 days walking I'm having a days rest.
In my opinion, reports of wild dogs along the Camino Frances or overrated. I totally understand that some people relate to dogs differently than others, but I cannot remember a single unleashed dog along the way that was not either friendly or indifferent toward passing pilgrims. Yes, there were barking dogs within fenced gardens and houses, but they posed no threat other than the nuisance of the noise they created. I would not, however, enter a private property, even if it were unfenced, wherein a resident dog showed any signs of aggression. Dogs are very territorial, and even an otherwise docile dog's personality can quickly change if he perceives that "his" property is being threatened.
Buen Camino,
Jim
..I was wondering what happens if the weather turns nasty and you have spent overnight at Orrison?
If you were at SJP and only just starting in bad weather then you would probably take the low route and so do you just carry on over the mountains from Orrison?
Regards
I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
Many thanks..I have taken a look on the map and can see the options....I have never stayed at the refuge Orison but the drill in bad weather seems to be to take the D428 road to D128 and then down to Valcarlos and either walk the Valcarlos alternate camino or follow the N 135 up to Ibaneta and Roncesvalles.
MM
Nancy,
Thank you, Tigerandahalf. I know this will be right for me. I will do the downhill very, very slowly and carefully.
Hiya the only thing I would say is once in Orisson although the view is fab there is only the Albergue that's it nothing else personally the walk from SJDP to Orisson is I would say for me the hardest after that your in your stride but ultimately it's your choice the monestry at rosconvalles is not to be missed for a night it's fabulous so even if you stay in orrisson also try to stay at the monestry the following day buen caminoI am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
I think I've decided to stop for all the reasons mentioned above. I've already emailed them to book my spot. Thank you. This forum has been invaluable to me! - M :arrow:
I fly into Biarritz March 26 but will probable take a day or 2 off in St. Jean to rest up. The stage I am somewhat concerned about is the first one because the basis for a successful long distance hike or walk is to start slow for the first week or so and build up the distance. With that being said I will probable try and stay at Orisson if it is open. I always carry a silnylon tarp, sleeping bag and pad if the weather isn't too bad I may camp out somewhere when the trail leaves the road out of the way. I don't know my exact schedule but I would probable willing to share my tarp with some other walkers if they are pressed for time at the top of the mountain pass. I also understand there is a shelter up at the top.
I have lots of time for my walk so I have no set schedule. The 10 day forecast I have been watching now have temps in the 60's which is perfect temp to walk. Got my Lebara sell phone for Spain (hope it works) so I guess I am all set. During the first few days around 20 klm sounds about right. Looking for to meeting other Pilgrams and maybe picking up a little Spanish.
Buen viaje
Pete
I decided to split the first day into 2, I hope the weather is good for some sunsets/Sunrise photography, I have booked a bed at Orisson on 25th April
The post you referred to is from Jan 2014, as SY said the Napoleon will be closed until April 1st.Hi Dave,
I was under the impression that they were closing the Napoleon route to Roncesvalles from November 1 through April 1 starting this year to avoid hazardous weather conditions and other safety concerns for the pilgrims. The Valcarlos route, however, is said to remain open. Have you heard these rumors? Whichever route I choose I plan on doing the same and taking two days to ease over the mountain.
Buen Camino
Jennifer
I have the same dilemma as you. I will start on 1st April from SJPP alone and I don't know what to choose.I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
I have the same dilemma as you. I will start on 1st April from SJPP alone and I don't know what to choose.
MANI DEAR...I am exactly where you are. It is a toss-up and I've voted on going the whole way. Those *astards at ORISSON are gouging people for 32 or 35 euro for a bunk bed. Have they lost their cotton-pickin' mind? So out of principle I say "NO"...let's not leave our hard-earned euro there. What I plan to do is go up that mountain gently even if it takes me four hours. Walking time is 7 hours. I will budget nine so I can take a couple of long rest periods. GOD BLESS! Let me know how you feel. regalsolomon@gmail.comI am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
Tumblie Dear...are you saying that SJPP to RONCI can easily be done in 8 hours? I was hoping to leave around 7:00 a.m. to avoid the hot JULY sun. Do you think it would be reasonable to say that I will get to RON at around 5:00 PM? With a two hour break in between?April 25th, my birthday, so remember to celebrate your first day on the Camino.I decided to do it in one day. I was probably the last pilgrim out of St Jean that morning but managed to get to Orrison and have lunch with others I had met the night before. It took me the average 8 hours, this does not include the time for lunch. It was tough but would probably to it the same next time. Enjoy your extra time and Buen Camino!!
May His peace, joy and love fill you this New Year.
Dear Homa... I googlemap everything and I don't know if it is accurate. One thing are roadmaps for cars and walking is another ball of wax. So... my question is...should I buy a professional map for a CAMINANTE or is googlemapping my way through the Camino good enough? Also, HOMA... when I look at the map, the route is different if one does SJPP straight to RON. If one goes through Orisson, the route is inward into the mountains...huh! Is this so? And all the people here are right. Stopping at ORI is too soon. Please advise me.I booked a bed at Orisson, but fell in early (at the Napoleon Alberge) with a great group of people the night before. Somehow intense bonds were formed early on (we became immediate family and stayed close on and off through the whole Camino, met up at the end etc.)
My new, sweet friends did not have a room at Orisson, and even though it was pouring rain, I headed back out with them after we had a break for hot tea and coffee, and I let my room go. The sense of adventure and momentum and traveling with a great group of folks was just toooo strong. The camino pulled me onwards, and I was so glad it did. The 32 euro I lost out on was nothing compared to the feeling of being left behind.
The only problem with Orisson is that it is just too early of a stop. If you are starting at SJPDP, and you are like me, it's just all still too exciting. The Pyrenees calls, Spain calls, the Camino beckons like a lover, and stopping seemed counter.
You never know how you will feel till you get there. I think it could go either way, you could have a great instinct to stay there, and it would be fabulous. Once again, I think flexibility and spur of the moment, heartfelt decisions take the day on the Camino.
I have walked this route on 2 occasions and the first time i found it very challenging .I was so grateful i had booked a night in Orisson and loved waking up in the mountains ,watching the sunrise over the mountains sipping great coffee and contemplating the day ahead it was the best decision of my whole camino.The second time i was with my sister we had booked a night in Orisson and it was again very welcomed although i could have gone all the way into Roncesvalles this time my sister was very happy to see the hostel in Orisson ,we had a great time meeting many pilgrims as they passed by and loved the pilgrim meal in Orisson that night .I would say its a great idea to stay here on your first camino ,its 8k straight up and if you are not very fit its hard and also why rush it and risk injury ,its all about the journey not the destination so enjoy it and don't try to run before you can walk,buen camino .I am debating on whether or not to stop for the night in Orisson or to continue to Roncesvalles on Day One. On the one hand, I don't want to push my self too fast, on the other, Orisson does not seem like much of a push for the first day. I don't want to regret booking ahead and paying for a room I don't use and I don't want to get that far and regret not not having a room. I know it seems minor but 32 euro is 32 euro. Any advice? I am walking alone and have been thinking a lot about this. Thank you! - M :arrow:
Great idea for all of those reasons ,i love this hostel and would never deprive myself of the joy of waking up in the mountains and enjoying the company of fellow pilgrims as we set off on the best day of the camino.THANK-YOU for this post and the responses
I will be travelling mid September and will be staying at Orisson - for a few reasons:
* to fully absorb the surroundings and the trip ahead
* stave off injury by starting too all out- will be my first day
* to meet some company for the next day
I will be booking ahead
Annie
One more thing I need to know... between SJPP and RON, are there any establishments for #1 and #2, coffee, croissants...just sitting and resting?
You sir are in for a rude awaking. I saw one of your other posts and "delusionary" comes to mind. Orisson offers a place sleep and a great communal dinner for a very fair demi-pension price. You will be lucky to find a better deal along the Camino. After walking past their refugio there is only one guy with a camper van selling drinks before the Spanish border, it's long walk over the Pyrenees to Roncevalles. Good luck with doing it in 7 hours from SJPdP.MANI DEAR...I am exactly where you are. It is a toss-up and I've voted on going the whole way. Those *astards at ORISSON are gouging people for 32 or 35 euro for a bunk bed. Have they lost their cotton-pickin' mind? So out of principle I say "NO"...let's not leave our hard-earned euro there. What I plan to do is go up that mountain gently even if it takes me four hours. Walking time is 7 hours. I will budget nine so I can take a couple of long rest periods. GOD BLESS! Let me know how you feel. regalsolomon@gmail.com
The price you mentioned includes the evening meal and breakfast so is not a bad deal.MANI DEAR...I am exactly where you are. It is a toss-up and I've voted on going the whole way. Those *astards at ORISSON are gouging people for 32 or 35 euro for a bunk bed. Have they lost their cotton-pickin' mind? So out of principle I say "NO"...let's not leave our hard-earned euro there. What I plan to do is go up that mountain gently even if it takes me four hours. Walking time is 7 hours. I will budget nine so I can take a couple of long rest periods. GOD BLESS! Let me know how you feel. regalsolomon@gmail.com
Orrisson, walk takes 1hour, bit more if you walk slow, I find its too early to stop for coffee, so I keep walking , 6 hours to roncesvalles, including, break for rest, food. As on average 300 leaves sjpdep every day and orrisson has 16 beds, tiny number of pilgrims sleep there, Buen camino
Hi Mark there are great tents out back if the hostel is full ,i stayed in one and they were very comfy .Just got a kick out of reading my own posts on this thread from March 2012 when I was getting organised for my first Camino. It was certainly a good call to stop at Orisson on that first day in May 2012. It was a bit of an epic saga even getting there to retain my booking (a tale of missed flights, late night bus journeys, being attacked by advertising hoardings in Bayonne... but that's a story for a different thread!), but it worked out really well. As other posters recalled from their own experiences, I met people there that night who I became friendly with, met over and over again on the way to Santiago, and have remained in contact with.
Having followed my Camino Frances walk in 2012 with a couple of weeks on the Camino Portugues in 2013, this year I hope to walk the Frances again. As in 2012, I hope to stop at Orisson this time around. It's for the same reasons as last time - looking to ease myself into the walk, do all that I can to stave off early blisters and injuries, and also looking to make those 'connections' with other people that create the friendships and sense of fraternity which help make the experience of walking for five weeks across northern Spain so rich.
That I'm hoping to head back out this year is part of why I'm posting here right now. I have an Orisson-related query, and so rather than start a new thread, I thought this might be a good place for it. Basically, I hope to start walking by mid-July. I know that takes me into the busy season and will have me passing through Sarria and arriving into Santiago during the peak pilgrim traffic period of mid-to-late August, but c'est la vie, it doesn't suit me to walk later in the year and I won't be able to walk earlier in the year, so that's the basic timeline I need to operate with, and I'm ok with that. Having arrived in Santiago in late June in each of the last two years, it'll be an experience to see how different the 'personality' of the city will feel in August!
Anyway, the point of the query relates to booking a bunk at Orisson. I booked well in advance in 2012, but my hands are tied somewhat this year. I'm not going to know exactly when I'll be flying out of Ireland until a little closer to the time. I want to be able to leave as early in July as possible, hopefully no later than mid-July, but I'm probably not going to be in a position to know for sure when I'll be free to go until early next month, perhaps even into mid-May. So, with an approximate mid-July start date in mind for heading off from St Jean, how far ahead do I need to look to make that Orisson booking? I know from 2012 that there is fairly limited space there, but I also know from the pilgrim stats that mid-July tends not to be the busiest time for pilgrims to be starting from St Jean. It won't be the end of the world if I find that I have to walk to Roncesvalles on day 1 (again, it'll be an experience!), but stopping at Orission would certainly be my preference. Do you think looking to make the booking around mid-May would be ample with a view towards early-to-mid July or do I run the risk at that point of being told there are no bunks left?
Thanks in advance!
You are so wright. A lot of pilgrims think very lightly about the Pyrenees. As you stated it is nota walk in the park.I do get concerned about some of these discussions. My fear is that it can be misleading for those who are yet to walk their first Camino. Particularly those who are not as fit as they could be. It was only a few months ago that I too would hang on every bit of advice gleaned from this forum.
My concern is about the capabilities of Pilgrims. Their age, level of fitness, experience of long distance hiking, the weight they are carrying, the suitability of footwear.....
We all vary so much. OK, I was one of the slowest walkers probably, most were of fairly average fitness, many very unfit and over weight quite frankly. They suffered early on, but soon got into their stride.
Maybe it's bravado. Maybe we have a smattering of hardened hill walkers amongst us. Maybe I'm just really unfit. But there seems to be a bit of 'chest beating' about "how fast I got to Roncesvalles"...... If you ran all the way in 4 hours. Great. Well done. But please don't try to tell a budding Pilgrim that it's easy.....
I certainly did not see many Pilgrims on my Camino that could breeze up from St Jean to Orisson and then on to Roncesvalles all in one day in 6 or 7 hours and not experience considerable discomfort. OK, there are obviously a few here. That's great. But I would suggest those people are the exception rather than the rule, and perhaps represent less than 10% or so of Pilgrims in terms of overall fitness and being 'Camino ready'. Perhaps they are regular walkers.
The other 90% huffed and puffed their way up the hill. Getting to Orisson in maybe 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I took 3. It's not far. It's 8 kms. But it IS Steep.
I could probably have done another 7 or 8 kms. I certainly felt that only 8 kms was a bit short. But the only other option was to walk another 17 kms. That would have been tough on Day 1. Of course lots do. Most Pilgrims do. There aren't that many beds at Orisson.
But let's be realistic. It's not exactly a walk in the park. Is it?
Sorry to rant a bit.....
I would just hate for some Pilgrim on their first Camino to have problems on day 1.
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