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You beat me to the punch. Start the pilgrimage early!!Could always walk.... I'm serious, there is rather a pleasant route along the river valley. Or just head along the Coast and pick up the Norte. Or the route of the Basque Interior.
Absolutely!Could always walk.... I'm serious, there is rather a pleasant route along the river valley. Or just head along the Coast and pick up the Norte. Or the route of the Basque Interior.
I see there is the road to SJ. You could start walking and put your thumb out? I wouldn't accept a lift in normal circumstances once on route but I think you would not only be forgiven for hitching a ride but might find interesting company?Managed to get to France from UK this morning (yesterdays flight cancelled). The last train to SJPP from Bayonne has also been cancelled. There are no trains running tomorrow & a taxi costs €130. Not sure if buses are running tomorrow. Does anyone have any ideas or shoud i just pay for a taxi??
Have you tried blablacar.com We have used this service a few times and it's wonderful. Both you and the driver are vetted. It's not quite the same as LYFT or UBER in the U.S. Our drivers have been individuals who just happened to be going somewhere that we wanted to go and it helps them pay for the gas, etc. of their drive. It's in France.Managed to get to France from UK this morning (yesterdays flight cancelled). The last train to SJPP from Bayonne has also been cancelled. There are no trains running tomorrow & a taxi costs €130. Not sure if buses are running tomorrow. Does anyone have any ideas or shoud i just pay for a taxi??
Another vote for the Baztan. I'm walking it right now and it is beautiful as well as quiet.Absolutely!
Instead of walking to SJPP, just go straight to Pamplona on the Baztan. 5 walking days will get you there. I can say from experience that it's a beautiful and quiet camino.
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
Not something that I would recommend to a woman traveling alone.I too am curious as to the solution. I thought "why not walk?" and saw that someone suggested to hitch a ride. With a backpack and strikes, I am sure you would get picked up by an interesting stranger. I have often hitched when the situation is difficult. Only met lovely helpful people this way.
Not something that I would recommend to a woman traveling alone.
I'm still embarrassed to admit that when I first started my research I asked if the SJPDP train station was walking distance from the center of the town... Here I was, planning an 800km walk, worried about whether or not I would be able to walk from the train station to my hotel. Old habits and ways of thinking are hard to break, and at that moment it didn't occur to me just how ridiculous my question was...There is something here that I don't understand. If someone sets out on a long walk, for whatever reason, and has got close to their desired starting point, why not just walk from the place they are at?
I'm not suggesting we all start from home, which could be very impractical for many, just that if a failure of public transport happens, then instead of looking for an alternative, why not start from where they are at? If time is short then it's surely possible to skip a bit of the journey later, and catch up that way? I think I must be missing something obvious here. Maybe pre-booked accommodation enters into the equation, or a concern about stepping into the unknown without an appropriate guide book?
A bit like trying to get a carpark near the entrance to the gym!I'm still embarrassed to admit that when I first started my research I asked if the SJPDP train station was walking distance from the center of the town... Here I was, planning an 800km walk, worried about whether or not I would be able to walk from the train station to my hotel. Old habits and ways of thinking are hard to break, and at that moment it didn't occur to me just how ridiculous my question was...
There is something here that I don't understand. If someone sets out on a long walk, for whatever reason, and has got close to their desired starting point, why not just walk from the place they are at?
I'm not suggesting we all start from home, which could be very impractical for many, just that if a failure of public transport happens, then instead of looking for an alternative, why not start from where they are at? If time is short then it's surely possible to skip a bit of the journey later, and catch up that way? I think I must be missing something obvious here. Maybe pre-booked accommodation enters into the equation, or a concern about stepping into the unknown without an appropriate guide book?
I was merely trying - for those who can’t fathom it - to help them gain insight into why people for whom all this is new and who aren’t born hitchhikers and long-distance walkers or who don‘t have already what feels like two hundred caminos under their belt, why these people don’t start to walk to Hendaye or walk the Nive valley or the Baztan trail. Maybe they have set their heart on crossing the Ibañeta pass, maybe they don’t want to miss Roncesvalles with all its history, maybe they don’t want to trudge along all by themselves from Bayonne and are instead looking forward to meeting kindred souls in SJPP for whom all this is new too and they, together, find encouragement and build confidence during their very first Camino days.Smiley shrug emoji
Two of us are on the plane from CDG at the moment and due in at 10.40. We are happy to share a ride if there are no buses going to SJPPManaged to get to France from UK this morning (yesterdays flight cancelled). The last train to SJPP from Bayonne has also been cancelled. There are no trains running tomorrow & a taxi costs €130. Not sure if buses are running tomorrow. Does anyone have any ideas or shoud i just pay for a taxi??
I make the bold assumption that even women are able to judge risk for themselves.Not something that I would recommend to a woman traveling alone.
Not sure it was that much safer in 80s but agree hitching is dodgy for men too!!Unfortunately indeed not anymore nowadays ( I am from that generation that regularly hitchhiked in the eighties). But not only for women btw. M or X should be watchful too!
Not
Not sure it was that much safer in 80s but agree hitching is dodgy for men too!!
yes agreed! Ignorance was bliss in those days!Good point.Might have been my youthful innocence.
Only some years later here in Belgium we had the most awful abductions by a serial killer / predator and by then perception about hitching completely changed.
Some even call it the pre and post era of D. ( the man does not deserve his name being spoken out ).
Ok, back on track now...
One assumes the OP managed a plan.
The Baztan and the Nive are nice choices. My first thought was get a bus to Saint Palais and walk south on the camino to SJPDP from there.
Well, I'm sure you have a good point or even many. It's just that I've been traveling since long before the internet, or if it comes to that, mobile phones. So it comes naturally to me to sort stuff out by myself. Currently sorting out a route from Shropshire to somewhere on the avenue verte to Paris. Then Tours route to home as part one of a two part cycling Camino. Main problem will be bike friendly accommodation in London that doesn't require a new mortgage. Looks like I might have to bypass the London bit and join around Brighton. And no, I won't be going via SJPP.I was merely trying - for those who can’t fathom it - to help them gain insight into why people for whom all this is new and who aren’t born hitchhikers and long-distance walkers or who don‘t have already what feels like two hundred caminos under their belt, why these people don’t start to walk to Hendaye or walk the Nive valley or the Baztan trail. Maybe they have set their heart on crossing the Ibañeta pass, maybe they don’t want to miss Roncesvalles with all its history, maybe they don’t want to trudge along all by themselves from Bayonne and are instead looking forward to meeting kindred souls in SJPP for whom all this is new too and they, together, find encouragement and build confidence during their very first Camino days.
Besides, and maybe this got perhaps lost among all the other advice and reminiscences, even on a major strike day like yesterday, there were two replacement buses at different times of the day for Bayonne to SJPP and today there will be three trains (instead of the regular five trains daily), and the first train is already about to arrive in Saint Jean at 7:46 this morning.
Now that you mentioned it: so have I.It's just that I've been traveling since long before the internet, or if it comes to that, mobile phones.
And it is that experience from years of travel (whether before or after the internet) that gives you confidence. Younger or less frequent travelers may not have it yet, or it is exhibited differently.It's just that I've been traveling since long before the internet, or if it comes to that, mobile phones.
Yet … it’s exactly what I did… from Bayonne."Let's walk a walk I've never heard of before the first moment something is not going 100% to plan" is usually not the first thought for a first time walker.
Damn good response. Compulsory reading fr all pilgrims; past and present.I was merely trying - for those who can’t fathom it - to help them gain insight into why people for whom all this is new and who aren’t born hitchhikers and long-distance walkers or who don‘t have already what feels like two hundred caminos under their belt, why these people don’t start to walk to Hendaye or walk the Nive valley or the Baztan trail. Maybe they have set their heart on crossing the Ibañeta pass, maybe they don’t want to miss Roncesvalles with all its history, maybe they don’t want to trudge along all by themselves from Bayonne and are instead looking forward to meeting kindred souls in SJPP for whom all this is new too and they, together, find encouragement and build confidence during their very first Camino days.
Besides, and maybe this got perhaps lost among all the other advice and reminiscences, even on a major strike day like yesterday, there were two replacement buses at different times of the day for Bayonne to SJPP and today there will be three trains (instead of the regular five trains daily), and the first train is already about to arrive in Saint Jean at 7:46 this morning.
Very cool, may I ask how you got in contact with BlaBlaCars? I might put that one in my back pocketHello All
I submitted a post last week re our dilemma being caught out by the national strike in France. Our train that we had booked from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port was cancelled. BlaBlaCars came to the rescue and linked us with a driver who drove us to Bayonne. The price was reasonable. We were able to get a refund for our train ticket as well. These drivers are just individuals that are travelling in the same or similar direction and are able to help out. Hope this information is useful.
Buon Camino
Ray and Glenys
Google will take you straight thereVery cool, may I ask how you got in contact with BlaBlaCars? I might put that one in my back pocket
I think it's just your impression. At least I hope so, because on the whole this is a helpful site. I sometimes wonder what we did when less information was available. I know I often had to go by bike to the library.It's all fine - improvise and walk a different route than planned, or stick to the plan and use alternative transport to get to the desired starting point.
It's always good to have several options.
What I felt was the problem here was not that alternative options (walk to St. Jean, walk the Baztan...) were pointed out, but that the tone in some responses was a little condescending, like, why even look for transport, just walk, dummy(even though of course much nicer words were used and it was more between the lines).
But maybe that's only my impression as someone whose native language is not english.
Perhaps the native language of some of the posters was also not English.....
It's always good to have several options.
What I felt was the problem here was not that alternative options (walk to St. Jean, walk the Baztan...) were pointed out, but that the tone in some responses was a little condescending, like, why even look for transport, just walk, dummy(even though of course much nicer words were used and it was more between the lines).
But maybe that's only my impression as someone whose native language is not english.
@KennyH, the standard advice given by SNCF is to go to www.sncf-connect.com after 5pm to check which trains or replacement buses are scheduled for the following day. If you see a train icon followed by a code/number, there will be a train and if you see a bus icon followed by one or two codes/numbers there will be a replacement bus.notified by SNCF that the train from Bayonne to SJPDP on Wednesday at 12.35 has been cancelled
@KennyH, it looks bleak for Wednesday 5 April. The standard advice given by SNCF is to go to www.sncf-connect.com after 5pm to check which trains or replacement buses are scheduled for the following day. If you see a train icon followed by a code/number, there will be a train and if you see a bus icon followed by one or two codes/numbers there will be a replacement bus.
At the time of writing (Monday evening) the outlook for Wendesday is not good. Check again tomorrow, Tuesday, after 5 pm.
View attachment 144178
I would check with Express Bourricot to see if they have any space that day. Far cheaper. https://www.expressbourricot.com/persons-transport/Hopefully I can at least get from Scotland to Bordeaux to Bayonne - then if worst case, I'll stump up for a cab just to get to SJPD at a decent time
Bordeaux to Bayonne looks fine for 5 April (see below for departures during the morning). As already suggested, check with Express Bourricot. They pick up from Biarritz airport, Biarritz train station, and Bayonne train station - price is the same and quite affordable when there are several passengers.Hopefully I can at least get from Scotland to Bordeaux to Bayonne - then if worst case, I'll stump up for a cab just to get to SJPD at a decent time
But I can understand that for someone who's not really comfortable travelling abroad, that might be scary - the thought of being stuck in a foreign country without being able to withdraw money when you need it might make some people panic.
Another update, Sunday 2 April:
On Thursday 30 March, 160 pilgrims arrived at the Pilgrim Office in SJPP, and 245 pilgrims on Friday.
A pretty safe assumption! We haven't reached Easter yet and already the SJPDP office has recorded 245 pilgrims on a single day. The signs so far suggest that numbers this year may be more than 2022 even though that was officially a Holy Year.Looking at the "Calendar - Check in Here!" thread on this site, there are around 4 pilgrims departing SJPP on May 16. I'm not suggesting there will be that few people departing, as it's a safe assumption that the numbers will be larger than the March numbers.
I'm surprised that there are 296 on the list for April and only 175 for May.Looking at the "Calendar - Check in Here!" thread on this site, there are around 4 pilgrims departing SJPP on May 16. I'm not suggesting there will be that few people departing, as it's a safe assumption that the numbers will be larger than the March numbers. But it's interesting how few have listed themselves on the calendar.
I had walked my first camino before finding this forum and I’ve never felt the need to list my departure dates on subsequent caminos. I suppose the calendar is a useful tool for those who need some reassurance that they won’t be alone out there. And this is an English language forum, so the vast majority of pilgrims won’t ever look here.Once I found this forum I stopped looking for other camino forums, but clearly either most people don't use a forum, or they use a different one, or simply chose not to list themselves as departing on May 16. Hope it wasn't anything I said...
Although last year's numbers arriving in Santiago broke records the numbers starting from SJPdP were still down to around 2014 levels as I detailed in this post.A pretty safe assumption! We haven't reached Easter yet and already the SJPDP office has recorded 245 pilgrims on a single day. The signs so far suggest that numbers this year may be more than 2022 even though that was officially a Holy Year.
I read @henrythedog's FindPenguins blog today, and he mentioned meeting up with @ivar and @natefaith when he arrived in Santiago. The consensus was that the record numbers of pilgrims receiving a Compostela last year was mostly due to those starting close to Santiago. This is borne out by statistics from León mentioned in this thread by @Bradypus and statistics from the Pilgrim's Office in St Jean.
Pilgrim numbers starting from SJPdP were down 13.38% compared to 2019, and lower than any non pandemic year since 2013.
There have also been several recent threads about the decrease in pilgrim numbers on the Meseta.
View attachment 142848
View attachment 142849
Another update, Sunday 2 April: On Thursday 30 March, 160 pilgrims arrived at the Pilgrim Office in SJPP, and 245 pilgrims on Friday.
Fwiw, I posted these numbers in this “Stuck in Bayonne” thread mainly for one reason: to illustrate that pilgrims managed to arrive in SJPP in significant numbers despite the fact that numerous trains were cancelled due to the railway strike …. as an encouragement for others who also found themselves “stuck” upon arrival in Bayonne.Looking at the "Calendar - Check in Here!" thread on this site, there are around 4 pilgrims departing SJPP on May 16
I am bit surprised to see that - according to current information on https://www.sncf-connect.com - there will be no trains or replacement busses for the line Bayonne to SJPP on 5 April while the trains between Bordeaux and Bayonne are running on that day.
My only explanation, but this is pure speculation on my part: the Fête du Jambon, the Ham Festival, starts on the following day in Bayonne and perhaps the French Railways use all their available staff to allow as many people as possible to travel to Bayonne …. perhaps something to visit while you are stuck in Bayonne?
Foire au Jambon 2024 | Bayonne
La Foire au Jambon de Bayonne se déroule à Bayonne depuis 1462. Chaque année est organisé le Concours du meilleur Jambon de Bayonne.www.bayonne-paysbasque.com
I'm not, for those people who bother to read the published statistics rather than making guesses based on their "expertise" then they will see that there is an ongoing trend to start earlier in the year.I'm surprised that there are 296 on the list for April and only 175 for May.
Fingers crossed.Leaving home in an hour, so wish me luck, and hopefully Buen Camino!!
Three or four people in a cab will be a whole lot cheaper than getting taxis one by one.can have a quick look around the train station and see if I can assist any lost souls who are stranded in Bayonne (obviously after sampling some of the local ham!!).
[Edited to add - I started a thread for you and others…] I suggest you post a new thread on this specifically, also on any FB groups you are on. There is someone in one of my private groups in the same pickle (same train as you) so there will be many more (I sent her a screenshot and suggested same)Thanks - I am partial to a bit of jambon!!
But all seems good with Bordeaux to Bayonne train - and with 5 hours to go, Ryanair haven't cancelled Edinburgh to Bordeaux. So tentatively, it could be worse - though I generally only believe Ryanair are flying once I actually land at the destination!! ; )
I did have a chat with my Travel insurance company - so looks like if I can show there is no available means of transport based on a cancellation by a transport operator, I can claim back reasonable travel costs to get me to my final destination.
So, if no bus, I'll likely take a cab and can have a quick look around the train station and see if I can assist any lost souls who are stranded in Bayonne (obviously after sampling some of the local ham!!).
Leaving home in an hour, so wish me luck, and hopefully Buen Camino!!
You are right of course. We won't know until the "season" is over. I also noticed. that less than half of those signed up for May indicated that they will walk the Francés. Of course those who are on the forum and post their starting dates/places are only a small portion of the total pilgrim community.I'm not, for those people who bother to read the published statistics rather than making guesses based on their "expertise" then they will see that there is an ongoing trend to start earlier in the year.
It is possible that previous years posts highlighting the huge wave in May and September from SJPdP may have influenced people to start earlier.
How this year actually turns out is beyond everyone's expertise. Lets wait and see rather than using chatter and guesses and let's not frighten the horses and pilgrims in the process.
It is after 5 pm in France and there have been some updates and improvements for tomorrow Wednesday 5 April: there will be a replacement bus leaving Bayonne for SJPP at 6:00 and another one at 12:35.the standard advice given by SNCF is to go to www.sncf-connect.com after 5pm to check which trains or replacement buses are scheduled for the following day
@KennyH, I hope you had a good flight and a good night’s rest in Bordeaux. Your info about reimbursement of expenses when there is no suitable public transport due to a strike is interesting. We should add it to our forum portfolio of advice for pilgrims stranded in Bayonne.I did have a chat with my Travel insurance company
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