1st June Go

 

Irun to San Sebastian 26km  

All journeys start with a single step and in this case it was stepping across the threshold of the Jacobi Pilgrim Hostel in Irun. By the time I get to Santiago de Compostella in approx a months time I shudder to guess just how many steps I will have taken or how much elevation / descent I will have covered. And no before you ask I am not counting them either physically or electronically on some kind of fitness tracker.

No amount of preparation will prepare the body, mind and soul for the initial day with its mix of excitement and nerves. And certainly not my level of preparation anyway, unless walking back and forth to the bar to order yet another cocktail whilst jollying round the Med for two weeks counts. Still I live in hope that my general running fitness will at least give me a good baseline of strength and endurance for what lies ahead.

And what lay ahead was what is described by many people as the most brutal and beautiful day of the entire Camino.

So cue 6am and all the lights in the hostel are turned on and the still sleepy pilgrims are greeting with a very cheery 'beun dias' from the hostel staff. By 7am with bags repacked and a lovely communal breakfast consumed it was time to get going in weather that can best be described as 'dreek'

Now as everyone who walks the Camino del Norte knows from Irun to San Sebastian there is the low path, the high path and as it turned out the wrong path. Now I know Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the life but the lack of distinctive scallop shells and yellow arrows made finding 'the way' for this initial stage problematic. Praise be for the Beun Camino app and a couple of fellow walkers (Peter, who had already walked from Holland and Nicole from Germany )who after leading this very strayable little lamb off the right track, finally after a 2.5km detour got us back on the right path.

Now contrary to what Peter Kaye might have you believe, that fine rain doesn't actually soak you through but made for rather pleasant conditions as we climbed (a lot), descended, meandered through misty forests, crossed a harbour by small ferry boat, hugged the coastline and stood at the high point of the days walk to admire the stunning views. Looking out I was greeted by glorious grey mist. And not just out to sea, but in glorious 360 degrees.

Some 7 1/2 hours after setting out I eventually arrived in San Sebastian where I am currently have aches and pains in places I didn't know existed this morning. So it’s off for a therapeutic paddle in the sea to end a 'lovely' day to get things underway. Just another 29 to go!