The Walk – Day 01

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Burguete/Auritz

Okay, so I survived the first day. The big one. I always said if I could get through this first Stage, I’ve got the rest of ’em beat. Of course anything can happen on the Camino so I encourage you to continue the journey with me. I might break a nail.

The day was dedicated to one of three leading mental health issues in Australia, Anxiety, the other two being Depression and Substance Abuse. I chose Anxiety for this day due to the anxiety I was feeling just trying to get here relying on my various modes of transport AND the trepidation I had of this first day challenge. Walking around a flat track back home was one thing but walking over the Pyrenees Mountain Range was on another level one hundred-fold. But in the end I overcome and I made it.

Anxiety itself is not something most sufferers can “get over” quite as easily but if you just take one small, slow step at a time you too are on the path to conquering, or at the very least, managing it.

So what about today then already??

Well I was up about 0630h and had to sneak my pack out of the dorm room to do a re-pack (future intent is for this to mostly happen the night before but I only reached my Albergue 1.5 hrs before the 10pm lockout and lights out). Flashbacks to Basic Military Training anyone?

So anyway, although I don’t always apply vaseline to my feet – I went to town today. If ever there was going to be a “protect your feet” day, this was it.

Quick complimentary coffee, a stamp of my Pilgrim’s Passport, and I was out the door at 0740h (still dark). I back-tracked a little to the famous threshold everyone passes through when starting the Camino-Frances, took some pics, shot a quick vid and I was off.

My biggest concern at this stage was that I didn’t have any water on me. For those following along I’ve previously talked about my awesome hydration system… well it requires bottles to put water in and no shops were open when I arrived in SJPdP. The albergue host was confident I could make it to Orisson with no water so off I went.

To be honest I thought there’d be more yellow shells and arrows leading me “The Way”, and maybe there were but I just wasn’t seeing them. It wasn’t a problem though ’cause I just followed the many other pilgrims on the trail for the most part.

The Pyrenees… the mountain that just keeps on giving… next opportunity you get try walking up hill constantly for about 23 km. And then as high in the sky as you achieved over the final 8 km of that, descend in the space of 4 km.The treadmill on an incline of 15 hadn’t prepared me for that – go figure. Oh, I should mention, despite the arduous challenge, it was a simply magnificent day weather-wise. Apparently it had been raining for a week prior to the day I arrived. So very fortunate indeed.

Well as I’m sure you can guess, considering I’m writing this now, I made to Orisson. I bought two Gatorade, a glass of fresh orange juice, and a chorizo bocadillo (sandwich). NB. The orange juice didn’t make it to the photoshoot ’cause I downed it at the counter.

Hydration system set up and half a sandwich later I kept on climbing. I’d rest occasionally and take in the magnificent views and then just keep on steppin’.

I stopped at a van somewhere high on the Pyrenees and bought two bottles of water and, to my surprise, collected a stamp for my passport too.

A couple of other noteworthy mentions… there is now an Australian Airforce Roundel (the Flying Kangaroo) sticker on a sign at about 1200m altitude on the Pyrenees, and another on the famous “Santiago de Compostela 790 km” sign on the outskirts of Roncesvalles. Keep an eye out for them next time you’re passing through.

And from that sign, a nice easy 3 km hike through some forest brought me to the beautiful little Spanish town (oh yeah, I’m in Spain now) of Burguete. It was apparently a place Hemingway used to enjoy holidaying in.

Found my albergue, checked, received my stamp, met my roomiest in the 8-bed dorm, had a shower, did my washing, charged my gear and backed up my media. Yes that’s right folks, the first 30 kms of my GoPro vid is in the can. It took 5 battery changes and a mid-walk recharge of my watch to get everything I need but all went pretty smoothly. Of course I’ve yet to see the footage…

No shops were open when I blew into town, and no food would be available ’til 8 pm. I was pretty hungry but one of my roomies, Lisa from Maine USA, kindly gave me some cashews and Pyrenees Mountain Goats cheese to tide me over.

Had my first Pilgrim’s Meal with Lisa and another roomie, Sarah from New York. I had Pea soup, beef and mash, a chocolate icecream, and we had a local bottle of red to share. All delicious.

Back to the room and off to bed only to be woken by a symphony of snoring and sleep apnia gasps, which is why I’m still writing this now at 6 am. Anyway, only a short 18-20 kms today so who needs sleep. Ha ha.

These blog entries won’t always be this long but there was a lot to tell on my first day in the field.

‘All in all an awesome day. Great weather, great views, food in the belly and a roof over my head. Slight sore shoulder from my pack but no blisters, so there will be a Day 02 as planned.

Thanks for coming along for the journey. Later.

Total Distance From SJPdP:	29
Distance To Santiago de Compostela:	787
Total Step Count:	44338

Some of the Pilgrim’s met today: Jo and Ben from Canada, Ed from Canada, Dario and Angela from Italy, Beth from North-East England, Lisa from Maine USA, Danielle from Canada, Sarah from New York USA, 3 Portugese ladies (last 6 were roomies).

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