Archives for April 2014

 Today was a day to get where I was going. I know that the downhill would be brutal. It definitely lived up to expectations. It is about 3.8 km down a steep muddy rocky path. Funny enough this is a day that calls for caution as the downhill is much more dangerous than the uphill.
 
 The good news is that it only took about 4.15 hours to make the trip. Had a great lunch of salad roasted chicken and potato’s, and of course a few beers to wash it all down.
 
 We were fortunate to arrive when we did as the sky’s opens up and it started raining really hard.
 
 790 kilometers left to Santiago.
 

Today was amazing. We were blessed with near perfect weather and a great walk.
 
 
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This is the start from Orisson. We walked about 10 miles up. That part was exhausting.

I watched the sun come up over the mountains.
 
 

Ou

The route I choose to SJPP is Sacramento to Los Angeles to Paris to Biarritz to SJPP. A little drawn out but not bad. I arrived in Paris last night around 5:45pm the flight was 30 minutes late but no big deal. Got through customers quick and met Paul outside of baggage claim. From there it was an easy trip via Air France shuttle bus transfer to Orly airport. On the bus I met two more pilgrims Arthur and Helena from Petaluma. They were catching a flight last night to Biarritz and may ride with us his morning to SJPP.
 
 Paul and I shared a room at the Ibis hotel very near Orly airport. The room was very Europe translated small. I think my closet and flew this morning to Biarritz.
 
 We arrived in SJPP at around 11:30am, went to the pilgrims office and checked in. I was so happy when they told me that the Route Napoleon was open.
 
 We stopped and picked up some food and began our walk up the Pyrenees. An easy day so we thought only 8 km. however, the walk was tough and amazing at the same time.
 
 

This is taken before Orisson at one of our frequent rest breaks.
 
 The Orisson is amazing a great stop between SJPP and Roncesvalles.
 
 Today we walked with Arthur and Helena. Arthur is from Germany but has lived in Petaluma since 1959. Helena is from Petaluma.