A glimpse into the journal I kept for all 38 days on the Camino Frances, including up to 10 photos (not necessarily the best pictures but more that they represent that day in some particular way). Today is day 1 – April 21st. St. Jean-Pied-du-Port to Orisson (Pyrenees)

The real day one! …

Morning was spent packing, breakfast at L’Espirit du Chemin, wandering a bit of SJPDP with two German women (citadel and a boutique where I got a pewter shell for my pack) and checking out the pilgrim’s office.

Robin (an American) and I decided it would be nice to tackle the mountain [Pyrenees] with someone so we joined forces. It was quickly apparent that she got the short end of the stick as I suck on hills and she is pretty good on them since she trained in the Cascades Mountains near her hometown of Seattle. The walk to Orisson is 8km and it took us 4 hours. The elevation gain to someone who lives in a valley is brutal. But the day was lovely weather-wise and view-wise. Views are exactly why I do silly things like climb the Pyrenees with a 19lbs pack.

Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1
Camino Frances - day 1