Camino Day One- St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles (15.5 Miles)

We finally make it to our start day! This is to be the hardest day of the Camino and it really is a challenge. We left at 7:45 out of the Town of St Jean Pied de Port and we go straight uphill for literally 3 hours. There are many pilgrim accompanying us, more than we thought there would be, We have since learned September is the busiest month on the Camino.

After the uphill part it flattened a bit and we walked amidst cows, sheep and the Basque pony breed called Pottok all grazing on the green green hills.

We did fine, our legs and feet very sore as we went over the pass of 4700 ft. elevation at 2:30 pm, but we held our own. It was challenging on the downhill hike for the last hour and fifteen minutes into the village of Roncevalles. It was made easier because a young man from New Jersey joined us and the conversation took our minds off our pain.

We walked into our hotel after walking for 8 hours, 15 miles, or 26 kilometers. Our first day on the Way complete.