Hi Denise, I arrive in SJPDP late on 8/27 & start walking with friend Scott on 28th. Did the CF Sept. 6- Oct. 12 2018. Absolutely fantastic experience. Highly recommend you stop at Orrison first day. It's only about a 3 hour hike, but it is 100% up hill. The albergue experience there is memorable (my first). Comfortable mattress on bunk bed. Nice shared bathrooms with good showers. Laundry machines with dryers or clothelines. Very nice communal dinner for all guests (no place else to eat)- plenty to eat, soup, salad, bread, chicken with vegetables, wine, but best was everyone was asked to stand up, introduce themselves, say where they were from, and why were they here. It was great- 50 guests (full house) 6 said they were there for purely religious reasons, about 10 for spiritual reasons, and the rest of us (about 34) said for the adventure, or to meet new people, or like me- didn't have a clue
. A truly amazing thing was there were 12 people from my city of Seattle! Except for 3 or 4 couples, we were all strangers to each other. Orrison was the only albergue that went thru this ritual, & later, the feeling of good fortune by all of us who would bump into each other along the way, sometimes weeks later, was universal. BREAK up the hardest first stage to Roncesvalles by stopping at Orrison.
PS - make reservations for both Orrison and Roncesvalles at least a month or two in advance. Both were turning people away last year in early Sept. Buen Caamino, mike