Hi Folks (it's been edited)
This might seem a new departure, on my part, for those who know me. I have been a keen cyclist for many years, so instead of interminable nights spent on trains around India, I’ll be walking along the so called ‘Way of Saint James’ across Northern Spain. Must explain something here. I was intending to ride it but after due consideration I have decided to walk instead. This momentous decision came about while I was weighing everything that I would need to take, and the 10-12kg of rucksack seemed an infinitely better option to the 27-30 kgs with the bike. In any case, walking is the traditional method of getting to Compostella.
This historical pilgrimage, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostella has been a well trodden trail since the early middle ages. In later times it became little used due to religious turmoil, wars, pestilence and death, but now its back with an expected 200,000 walkers and bikers this year. Two thousand and ten is one of those long awaited auspicious years when, mainly the believers will be heading along the route in their droves to visit the cathedral at Santiago de Compostella. The reason is that after a period of eleven years, Saint James’ birthday, the 25th July falls on a Sunday. It is of course the place where many believe he was entombed.
But for me anyway,
I have seen some pictures taken along the 800 kilometre route and it looks like a very interesting and pleasant experience.
Starting with a flight from Prague to Biarritz, where I wont have to reassemble my bike, I shall try to get a train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the border. From there I have it on good authority that the track is ‘unbikable’ over to Roncesvalles but there is little I can do about that now! I am not sure it’s going to be pleasant pushing/carrying 30 kilos of bike and gear up the Pyrenees, but once over, it’s surely got to be much better. (this is just one of the reasons for the change of plan)
Accommodation seems well organized with many cheap hostels called ‘albergues’ which are run on a non profit basis for the many travellers.
I should be on my way on the 13th July, and hopefully I’ll be able to upload a blog or two along the way.
Cheers
This might seem a new departure, on my part, for those who know me. I have been a keen cyclist for many years, so instead of interminable nights spent on trains around India, I’ll be walking along the so called ‘Way of Saint James’ across Northern Spain. Must explain something here. I was intending to ride it but after due consideration I have decided to walk instead. This momentous decision came about while I was weighing everything that I would need to take, and the 10-12kg of rucksack seemed an infinitely better option to the 27-30 kgs with the bike. In any case, walking is the traditional method of getting to Compostella.
This historical pilgrimage, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostella has been a well trodden trail since the early middle ages. In later times it became little used due to religious turmoil, wars, pestilence and death, but now its back with an expected 200,000 walkers and bikers this year. Two thousand and ten is one of those long awaited auspicious years when, mainly the believers will be heading along the route in their droves to visit the cathedral at Santiago de Compostella. The reason is that after a period of eleven years, Saint James’ birthday, the 25th July falls on a Sunday. It is of course the place where many believe he was entombed.
But for me anyway,
I have seen some pictures taken along the 800 kilometre route and it looks like a very interesting and pleasant experience. Starting with a flight from Prague to Biarritz, where I wont have to reassemble my bike, I shall try to get a train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the border. From there I have it on good authority that the track is ‘unbikable’ over to Roncesvalles but there is little I can do about that now! I am not sure it’s going to be pleasant pushing/carrying 30 kilos of bike and gear up the Pyrenees, but once over, it’s surely got to be much better. (this is just one of the reasons for the change of plan)
Accommodation seems well organized with many cheap hostels called ‘albergues’ which are run on a non profit basis for the many travellers.
I should be on my way on the 13th July, and hopefully I’ll be able to upload a blog or two along the way.
Cheers
