Beautiful views across to the snow capped peaks of the Pyrennes


Still a bit of snow left near Col de Lepoeder


So high up that the leaves have not yet come out on the beech trees

But lower down, in warmer climes the leaves are out



After a long day of walking, still a little way to go!!


Roncesvalles


The abbey at Roncesvalles


Inside the Abbey. So peaceful there!


The mist above St. Jean-Pied-de-Port as we left



Breakfast stop at Orisson




Crossing the border from France into Spain









Day One – St. Jean-Pied-de-Port (France) to Roncesvalles (Navarra, Spain)

Well the good news is that we did it! Both of us were quietly very nervous about this leg of the journey. It’s billed as the toughest one of the whole Camino – nice start huh! A 25km route that rises 1250  metres (4100 feet) to Col de Lepoeder, and then descends into our destination Roncesvalles.

We started at just after 7 am  walking steadily upwards with great views back to SJPP with the mist hovering above the town. We arrived at Refuge Orisson (8km) at around 10 and had coffee/breakfast. For those of you who watched the BBC”Pilgrim” series, it took them about 5 hours to get there. There were some horribly steep parts en route. On the way up there we saw a couple of eagles – but none looked like Don Henley or Joe Walsh!! (boom boom – there goes another rib!)

Still climbing we reached the highest point at Col de Lepoeder, passing the very last of the winter snow. And from there onwards it was the easy descent into Roncesvalles – or so we thought. Today’s lesson – dropping 1400 feet in 3 miles along steep stony paths is unbelievably tough on your body. Not fun, but foul language was minimal, as we’re on a mission from god 😉.

Just had our first Camino communal meal with fellow “pilgrims” – all good fun. Great basic meal for €10, including red wine. Interesting company – a Swede, 2 French Canadians and 2 Spanish – ironically from the final destination of Galicia. Interesting use of Franglais, Spanglais throughout etc.

Anyway, that’s it for day 1. A few pictures above. Can’t guarantee there’ll be updates every day, but for now “Buen Camino” to you all.

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