I arrived to the airport in Bayonne/ Biarritz airport half dead from exhaustion. I hadn't slept a wink on the plane over and was up all night packing the night before. I actually wasn't up all night packing as much as I was second guessing what I did pack. Your world literally is strapped against your back for this journey. Everyones goal appears to be 10 percent of their body weight though when I hear of that successfully happening it appears to be legend to me, I've yet to witness it with my own eyes. Future grandchildren of mine will hear this "grandma hiked the Camino with only ten percent of her body weight and on her knees.....".
I was so fortunate to compare notes with a lovely gentleman from England prior to taking off,we met on the forums that help you research your trip and had the common denominator of starting our Camino on the same day. Since we both appear to be research hounds we were drawn to the same two places to stay on our first two nights, amazingly our flights arrived within minutes of each other and we shared transportation to Saint Jean with two others thus saving money. You can't really determine where you are going to stay on this path but having reservations the first day is highly recommended, the second only if you don't make it over the Pyrenees mountains. I had booked a place the second night to cut my trip over the Pyrenees in two, it was a choice that I second guessed after (stay tuned) as I thought "do I really need to break this up, won't I lose a day".
I got my second wind and D from England and I had a wonderful stroll thru town to find our auberge ( place to stay). We approached L'Espirit de Chemin decorated with backpacks boots and pilgrim staffs and heard the sweetest voice to my ears, Lisette one of the volunteers here at this Dutch oasis, "do you have reservations? Come in". Staying there requires that you will do a family styled dinner and breakfast which was the highlight of all. I think there were about twenty of us we introduced ourselves and relaxed with vino and enjoyed the atmosphere and company. I thought of my friend Michelle who lives around the corner from me, affectionately known as "rabbit" for I tend to show up at her home just like Winnie the Pooh shows up at rabbits house. She is always making the most special meals and treats and serves them with such warm and open grace. We ate several courses but the main one was a quiche with potatoes and bread crumbs with paprika and cayenne sprinkled on top. After a wonderful breakfast we were kissed and sent off by our hosts with a " Buen Camino"...it's hard to believe in a few short hours they would be entertaining a whole new tired and anxious crew, they appeared to be there just for us.
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