I arrived in Bayonne late monday evening and stayed at a hostel close to the train station.
Up at 6, and at the train at 6.39 towards Saint-jean-pied-de-port which is the official starting point at El camino france. I got three new friends at the train station and we travelled and walked together the hole day - all the way until not finding a place to stay. More about that later.
I Saint jean pied de port, we started visiting the turist office to get the el camino passport and start the walk. Weather was with us and the sun started to raise. The track started really hard with an accent, and continued to accent for several hours, but nature and the Pyrenees were so beautiful that pain and struggle quickly was forgotten. The path continued until we had accented 1200 meters. Only place to buy food was at a restaurant early on the track.
Finally we arrived at Roncesvalles after 24 km hard trail, just to find out that no beds were available. Next town 3 km later was the same - no beds. And second town after that the same. So after 35 km, I decided to checkin on a really nice hotel instead. My new friends - one stayed in his tent in the middle of a forest, one got a shared room with another pilgrem, and the last continued walking to find a cheaper option at a camp site.
I did not regret the hotel - and went to the only restaurant in town where I got a nice meal, a cold beer and enjoyed the company of an Irish man that I will walk with tomorrow. And lessons learned, I have now booked accommodation in a hostel for tomorrow with a shorter walk of just 15 km - giving time for writing and reflecting more tomorrow afternoon.
What a start - beautiful landscapes, really nice people and a great walk.
