Committed - No Turning Back

We are now resolutely committed to walking the Camino!  There's no turning back as airline and train tickets have been purchased, Paris accommodation booked and travel insurance paid.  Committed, motivated, apprehensive and excited!
 

Our departure day is Saturday 5^th April 2014.  We fly from Brisbane to Paris with a stop over in Dubai.  After a four day romantic Paris sojourn staying in the Hotel de Fleurie in St Germain, a little luxury before becoming pilgrims, we catch the fast train to Bayonne where we’ll hire a small car and spend several days exploring some of the  beautiful historic villages in the South West of France.  Then it’s back to Bayonne to return the car before catching the train to St Jean Pied de Port.  We spend the night in St Jean awaiting the arrival of Anita, our Camino Companion, before setting off by bus/taxi to Roncesvalles where we will begin walking 'our' Camino.

Many pilgrims begin their journey to Santiago in St Jean Pied de Port however this requires a 25km hike through the Pyrenees to reach Roncesvalles, just over the border in Spain.  This section of the walk is one of the most demanding of the entire route and I just don’t feel confident enough to begin our trek from here.  Steve would really like to walk this section  however he agrees that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for me to attempt such an arduous stretch on the first day of the Camino carrying a full pack.