We have lift off!

After saying goodbye (for now) to Andrew & Aleks I flew with the budget carrier Ryanair from London Stansted airport to Biarritz in St West France then a train with 4 poms to the one of the popular commencement points - St Jean Pied de Port. Checked in at accomodation - got my Pilgrims passport and some dinner before trying to sleep - kept waking up looking at my watch!

Anyway 7·40 this morning set off into the Pyrenees for the 27k journey to Ronscavelles in Spain - the first 2 hours were a breeze a little humid but all well. After a coffee and food at Orisson headed on only to run into zero visibility with fog, cloud and drizzle. It slowed me down to a crawl as signs appeared out of the mist and the markings on the ground were a little confusing. A number of people got disorientated and I found a number just sitting on rocks on the side of the road looking to hook up with others. Couple all this with some serious up up going and it wasnt much chop - ended up getting in to Ronscavelles around 2.30 so a 7hr day.

Facilities here are very good - good showers, clothes lines and a very good meal tonite - pasta, fish & chips then yoghurt to finish - oh and a bottle on the table to share!

So there we have it - sleeping arrangements are interesting with double side by side bunks - may have to do a Rod Marsh and kiss the guy next to me early on - that way he wont sleep ...... or snore and I¨ll be sleeping like a baby.

I´ve just seen the day 2 cricket score so not so keen to bump in those poms again!

Another 27k tomorrow and then to Pamplona on Sunday - the bulls have finished running so should be ok.

Andrew and Aleks did the catering at the ladies house who owns the ski chalet - by all accounts the meal was well received - she is interviewing another couple as well - fingers crossed. They come to Spain tommorrow to do the camper van thing and with a bit of luck I will see them on their travels

Regards to all