The Adventure begins …,

After three days in Paris I have, today, arrived in St Jean Pied de Port – the starting point of the Camino Frances!

Paris provided me with a Sunny Saturday – then two days of Rain (I thought I was leaving this behind) and freezing cold temperatures – down to 6 degrees and up to 13!

On Sunday before the inclement weather kicked in Sally and I walked from her place to the Place de Clichy… a small 5k walk but enough to earn a beer at the Irish pub!

Very shortly after our arrival the rain came in… so it was a bus ride home!

Monday morning it was still torrential rain and didn’t ease off until midday when we ventured out for a few errands and lunch…. A bag repack for me, a load of washing and the first shop of winter pyjamas …. Which I have already worn! Spring in Paris is preparing me for my walk! Which is predicted to be a couple of cold rainy days….this wonderful weather pattern seems to be following me south!

However my day of travel from Paris to the Pyrenees was a sunny(but chilly) one today.

Sally came with me (on the first train ride) to Montparnasse, where I caught the long haul to Bayonne in the south west of France…a three and a half hour ride….and as luck would have it I had a (single) facing backwards seat! Then it was a transfer to the regional train to my destination…full to the gunnels of (slightly smelly) trampers all psyching up for their big walk!

So it was goodbye to Clichy (Paris) and hello to……..

St Jean Pied de Port! I am still in France (just) My 15 year old bag is failing in the wheel area and a slight climb up the gravel path almost broke its back! However from here on in, she will be travelling by taxi while I travel on foot!

I had booked an extra night here so tomorrow I can prepare myself (mentally) for first day which is 27kms over the mountains…heading towards Spain!

I arrived at my hotel at 6.30pm…the exact time pre arranged and no one was here! Finally a man arrived (after a few what’s app messages) …. To give me a key to my cell unit – no windows, and no air! A small bathroom, which I am grateful for, and a bed!

I have to be out by 10.30am , no breakfast included and the wifi doesn’t connect as I am in a concrete cell! Hopefully my tour booking hotels provide a little more comfort!, and less isolation!!! Although this is a pilgrimage, one does not need to feel like they are in Jail!

So it’s Netflix on my phone! A chocolate bar for dinner and hopefully a good nights sleep to battle through the next week of (predicted) rain!