My Camino begins! June 11, 2025- arriving in SJPP

The day is finally here!  

I leave tonight to fly to Paris and then to Biarritz. 

My itinerary:

  • June 11    Depart RDU
  • June 12    Arrive Paris CDG
  • June 12    Quick connection to Biarritz
  • June 12    Bus from Biarritz airport to Bayonne, train to St Jean Pied-de-Port (SJPP)
  • June 13    Day in SJPP
  • June 14    Begin Camino; walk to Alberge Borda
  • June 15    Borda to Roncesvalles
  •  ......          Walk as far as I can..
  • June 28    Train to Bilbao
  • June 29    Fly to RDU

I'm flying with my backpack- whew, is it ever heavy!  I'm wearing my Hoka clown shoes, a waist pack, hiking shirts and two pairs of socks.  Elegant I am not.

But I'm off! 

Airline food...


My Delta flight is uneventful, and arrives on time.  

I have about 60 minutes to get off the plane (with heavy backpack), clear customs and immigration, and literally run to another terminal to catch the flight to Biarritz.  I'm not running alone- there are several others doing the same thing.

We make the flight and arrive in Biarritz about 11 am. 

Jetlagged, of course, I grab a cappucino at the airport cafe and try to figure out how to get to SJPP.  I had reserved a shared shuttle but that does not leave for a few hours. So I decide to take the bus to Bayonne and catch the train to SJPP. 

There is a bus ticket machine just outside the airport doors and my French comes back to me as I purchase a one way ticket.  And I meet my first pilgrim,Will, from New Zealand.

  

We ride the bus to Bayonne together (about 30 minutes) and discover that we will be in the same alburgue the next night.  Will is spending his first night in Biarritz and so gets off hear his hotel.

The bus drops me right in front of the Gare de Bayonne (train station- such an elegant building) and I easily purchase my ticket to SJPP.  


I get onto the train, happily stow my backpack, and grab a seat.The train is filled with pilgrims and backpacks.  


 
I sit down next to another pilgrim. We introduce ourselves and she is Christina - SHE IS PART OF MY CAMINO FAMILY!!  She and I were to meet in SJPP and have lunch or supper together!  And here we are meeting on the train!
 
The train ride was lovely, along a small river at the base of the mountains.  And boy are they STEEP!!!  These are only the foothills of the Pyrenees but whew- I have to cross them...
 
 

















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