Friday 25th March

Off to a good start, deciding that my pack was too heavy to carry up the hill to the tram stop so took a taxi to the airport. Edinburgh – Stansted – Biarritz – Bayonne, then a train to St Jean Pied de Port. Met some fellow pilgrims on the train, very friendly but I did wonder why their packs were so small…what have I missed? Apparently nothing, although they did seem a bit light on the sleeping bag and waterproof front which strikes me as madness, it’s early spring and it could be cold.

Tourist info – the winter route is shut due to snow so it’s 26k on roads tomorrow…I, personally, think cars and drivers are much more dangerous than snow :(. Daniel arrived and a few beers were followed by a dinner of Poélée de Ris d’Agneau, which I, mistakenly, thought was lamb kebabs with rice (I only lived in France for four years!) – turns out it was an oily lamb throat stew, I’d say it tasted like chicken but I’d be lying.

I have chosen to stay in B&Bs as where possible to avoid multiple snorings during the night so was rather dismayed that the B&B we’d chosen appeared to have a crêche convention going on all through the night – much weeping and wailing and that was just me…