Second attempt at first Camino Sep. 14th 2019

[NamelessPilgrim]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 26-year old man from the Netherlands, and after a failed attempt to walk the Camino Frances starting in Bordeaux two weeks ago, I will be making a second attempt from SJPDP on Saturday. Not counting the previously mentioned, failed, attempt, this will be my first time travelling alone. Since I failed two weeks ago, the last few days I am getting increasingly nervous/worried at the prospect of my second attempt. As such, I started reading on forums online, and thought I'd make an account to say hello.

I'm not sure if this the right place to ask, but I am second guessing some of my decisions. I talked with some people who have walked the Camino before and they advised me that I don't need to reserve an accommodation (bed?) in SJPDP. However, reading on the forum here I gathered that is very busy at the albergue's at the moment. My train will arrive around 15:50. Will that still be early enough to find a bed?

A second, shorter, question would be if I can still use my "original" credencial. I got a few stamps in Bordeaux, but I will have no stamps between Bordeaux and SJPDP. If I continue with stamps from SJPDP to Santiago will I still be eligible for a Compostella? I've read on some places on the forum that you need one stamp a day until Sarria and two stamps a day from Sarria to Santiago. If I need a new credencial can I get one at the pilgrim’s office in SJPDP?

I'm sorry for the long post.

Thank you very much in advance,

O

 

[Former member 49149]

Hi, O. I wish you all the best for this second attempt. I can say something about the credencial. Simply this: just start using it. If you are asked, all you have to say is the fact that you had to stop, and this is you beginning again. Someone with more up to date info re booking will soon tell you something.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

You could spend the night in Bayonne and take a morning train to SJPdP with (maybe) enough time to start your walk.

 

[Roland49]

You could spend the night in Bayonne and take a morning train to SJPdP with (maybe) enough time to start your walk.

That would be my recommendation, too!

To the OP:
Near the trainstation are some inexpensive hotels, specialised on pilgrims and their needs.

You do not need to worry about anything.
There will be a solution for every problem you will encounter.

I did book ahead just 1 bed on my CF (and one was reserved for me by my camino-family) in July. OK, it was not as crowded as at this time of year. Try to avoid the villages / towns that are mentioned in the well known guidebooks. Gronze.com will help to find a accomodation. Or use one of the apps that are available.

And have fun, be open hearted and open minded and you will have the time of your life.
You will find company on the way.

 

[C clearly]

Welcome to the forum! You have come to the right place.

You can use your previous credencial with no problem.

You didn't give any indication of what problem you encountered on your first attempt, but used the word "failure" several times. I know it is easier said than done, but try not to think of the journey as something that will either be a failure or a success. Try to find lessons, humour and joy in whatever you encounter.

Based on what I have read on the forum, I expect that accommodation will be a problem in the first few days. Perhaps it would be wise to take a sleeping mat, which you can discard later if it is not needed. You will not be the only person in this predicament, so again, try to share the frustrations and humour with others.

If I were you, I would try to book accommodation up to and including Pamplona. If you book a 2-person room, you will probably easily find a room-mate to share the cost.

An alternative which I would recommend before you declare another failure, would be to bus/train ahead to Pamplona or Irun and start there. From Irun you could walk the Norte, or the Vasco del Interior to Santo Domingo de los Calzados or to Burgos. Another simple alternative would be to go back to Bayonne and walk from there to Pamplona.

Who knows?... maybe you'll meet someone in Bayonne before SJPP, and decide to start walking from there to Pamplona! Skip SJPP entirely!

You would re-join the Frances after the most problematic areas. If you are interested in these options, just ask. We can provide forum links, KML track files for your smart phone, etc., etc.

It seems that your doubts and second-guessing are a problem. However, the travel (bus/train) arrangement are not difficult to make when you are on the spot in Spain, and you might even find companions who would like to share that change in route.

Buen camino!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Who knows?... maybe you'll meet someone in Bayonne before SJPP, and decide to start walking from there to Pamplona! Skip SJPP entirely!

Gronze.com suggests five stages on the Camino Baztan from Bayonne to Pamplona. This also crosses the Pyrenees.

Camino de Baztan | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

El Camino de Baztan o Camino de Urdax-Baztan enlaza la ciudad francesa de Bayonne con Pamplona, en el Camino Francés. Fue un ruta medieval de peregrinación alternativa: cruza el Pirineo por el Puerto de Otsondo, de menor altitud que el Puerto de Ibañeta. Aún minoritario, el camino cuenta con...

www.gronze.com

Search results on the forum for Baztan:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search/796872/?q=Baztan&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[NamelessPilgrim]

Thank you all for your kind suggestions. I will take my previous credencial with me on my next attempt. I am going to search for accommodations around SJPDP and look into the Bayonne Pamplona route. Does anyone know if there are marked routes and alberque's on that path?

In response to C clearly: I started walking from Bordeaux towards Le Barp (well Mios, as I could not book lodgings in Le Barp). I used google maps for navigation as the route wasn't covered in any of the Camino apps I had found. It tried sending me over highway's/large provincial (car) roads multiple times, and I ended up walking around 35 kilometres (21 miles I think) that day, and I still had to call three different taxi service’s in order to find a cab to take me to the other side of the highway, so I could reach my hotel room before the dark. With the prospect of having to walk at least 30 more kilometres towards the hotel for the next day (best case google maps estimate). Seeing as how I just barely made it through those 35 kilometres I just gave up. I also met no other pilgrims anywhere during that journey as well as in Bordeaux which I think made it extra hard for me keep my spirits up.

You are right to point out that this experience has led to doubting and second-guessing myself. I was determined to try again soon when I decided to go home, and thank you for your advice about trying to not see the Camino as a matter of succeeding or failing.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Gronze.com suggests five stages on the Camino Baztan from Bayonne to Pamplona. This also crosses the Pyrenees.

Camino de Baztan | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

El Camino de Baztan o Camino de Urdax-Baztan enlaza la ciudad francesa de Bayonne con Pamplona, en el Camino Francés. Fue un ruta medieval de peregrinación alternativa: cruza el Pirineo por el Puerto de Otsondo, de menor altitud que el Puerto de Ibañeta. Aún minoritario, el camino cuenta con...

www.gronze.com

Search results on the forum for Baztan:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search/796872/?q=Baztan&c[title_only]=1&o=date

I want to do this next time!
Has anyone here on the forum walked this route?

 

[Juspassinthru]

Nameless Pilgrim,

You’ve failed at nothing because you continue to try. Thomas Edison said “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up”. Go to SJPP and walk with dozens of others who are probably having the same doubts and are second guessing their decisions as many of those posting here did at some point on our Camino. The beauty of The Camino is that one of your Camino Family will extend a helping hand as you probably will at some point on the Camino. Walk my friend and be proud of each days accomplishments and soon, you’ll be wishing that Santiago was just a bit further.

Buen Camino!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

@NamelessPilgrim, the Gronze site linked to in my previous post will list accommodations along the route with each linked to a Gronze webpage describing it. It is in Spanish but if you use the Crome brozer you should be asked if you want a translation.

@Anniesantiago, you want to click the second (long) link I posted.

 

[Anamya]

And to ease the pressure on yourself, maybe reduce your daily waking from the 30km mark to around 20km something? Specially on the first days, it is good to leave some energy ti do other things than walking (rest from journey, find hotel, etc).
In a few days you will know your pace well and everything falls in place

 

[C clearly]

I used google maps for navigation as the route wasn't covered in any of the Camino apps I had found.

Do you have maps.me on your phone? Having the tracks to follow greatly increases my confidence in being in an unknown place, even when people say the routes are well marked. I now have almost all routes in Spain on my phone now, in case I decide to jump to another route.

It is very easy to download tracks of the routes and follow them. Start by downloading the app maps.me, and the appropriate maps of Spain. Then, if you want, I will email the file showing the Baztan route. I haven't walked it but I was considering it for October, so I am all ready! Instead I now plan to take the Vasco del Interior.

 

[NamelessPilgrim]

Again thank you all for your kind words. I have reserved a room in SJPDP for tomorrow. I have heard that the Baztan route can be very lonely/devoid of other pilgrims so I am hesitant to try that route. I think I will simply go to SJPDP tomorrow and walk the Valcarlos route towards Roncesvalles on sunday and see how that goes. Juding by your comments if I meet other people on the way their I can always change my mind.

 

[FamPed]

Enjoy, take it in your own pace. Take a deep breath and one step at a time. I wish you all the best. ☺ Buen Camino!

 

[Former member 49149]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 26-year old man from the Netherlands, and after a failed attempt to walk the Camino Frances starting in Bordeaux two weeks ago, I will be making a second attempt from SJPDP on Saturday. Not counting the previously mentioned, failed, attempt, this will be my first time travelling alone. Since I failed two weeks ago, the last few days I am getting increasingly nervous/worried at the prospect of my second attempt. As such, I started reading on forums online, and thought I'd make an account to say hello.

I'm not sure if this the right place to ask, but I am second guessing some of my decisions. I talked with some people who have walked the Camino before and they advised me that I don't need to reserve an accommodation (bed?) in SJPDP. However, reading on the forum here I gathered that is very busy at the albergue's at the moment. My train will arrive around 15:50. Will that still be early enough to find a bed?

A second, shorter, question would be if I can still use my "original" credencial. I got a few stamps in Bordeaux, but I will have no stamps between Bordeaux and SJPDP. If I continue with stamps from SJPDP to Santiago will I still be eligible for a Compostella? I've read on some places on the forum that you need one stamp a day until Sarria and two stamps a day from Sarria to Santiago. If I need a new credencial can I get one at the pilgrim’s office in SJPDP?

I'm sorry for the long post.

Thank you very much in advance,

O

Hi, O. How are you doing?