I appreciate all the 'licks'
and positive intentions. Leading on from expectations, having booked my flight my attention has turned to booking my first two nights accommodation. Based on the valuable insights received here this time last year I booked the Napoleon Gite in St Jean, Kayola near Orisson (as Orisson booked) and Roncesvalles. Question is, should I do the same, stay in the same accomodation?
I'd be grateful for any recommendations for nights accommodation in SJPdP?
For the benefit of any new pilgrims I would recommend booking the first nights accommodation in St Jean. I arrived on September 8th 2018 around 5pm and everything seemed to be booked out. Plus if traveling near and far there's the peace of mind that comes from the certainty of knowing that a clean bed, hot shower and hearty meal and breakfast awaits. Its opportunity to taste the local french quisine before entering Spain.
I would consider myself relatively fit and the first days 26km walk over the Pyrenees (1,430m above sea level) did not appeal to me in 2018 so I decided to stop after 7.5km near Refuge Orisson. I'm glad I did because I was unprepared for the degree of gradient and in 32 degree heat it was enough of a first day challenge and couldn't have imagined waking another 19km. The other advantage was to experience the Orisson hospitality and meet and greet what is referred to as your potential 'camino family'. After eating 'ok' food everyone turns their attention to reasons and motivations for wanting to walk the Camino. This is a little bit of Camino magic and the energy created by the variety of nationalities present makes it worthwhile to experience, at least once. The people you share bread and stories with around the table will become familiar faces throughout the days and weeks to follow.
On my 2019 walk I intend to start walking at 7am from St Jean and hope to arrive around 3pm into the second of my pre-booked accommodation at Roncesvalles. In September 2018 some pilgrims I walked over the Pyrenees with hadn't booked in advance and found the hostel fully booked.
This is the link for booking and by clicking on the purple circle near the top of the page links to reservation page. I would recommend booking one night stay+evening meal+breakfast for 25.50 Euro.
www.alberguederoncesvalles.com
In September 2018 I walked to Santiago without prebooking and always had a bed, sofa, inflatable bed until prebooking again for arrival into Santiago five weeks later. This year I'm going with the flow and may or may not reach Santiago. The Meseta is my purpose and don't expect to have any problems finding a bed between Burgos and Leon. If I do the best piece of advice I learned from my Porto to Santiago follow-up walk in November is too embrace the possibility of sleeping under the stars and risk and trust in purposively putting oneself outside perceived comfort zone. Leave behind expectations, carry only hope