Day 0. Lincoln - St Jean Pied de Port.

       So it starts.

    From Lincoln it was two trains and a bus (working on the track, so it was a replacement train) and a Ryanair flight from Stansted got me to Biarritz in France. 

     Another bus and a train across the hilly bit of France and I'm in the historic town of St Jean Pied de Port at the foot of the Pyranees. 

The arch where the Camino officially starts.

     Fourteen hours door to door. 

     My booked accommodation was expecting me and I'm the only bloke in a five bunk bed room. The rest are woman of various ages, one is definitely of indeterminate age because she was was wrapped up in a sleeping bag and snoring. I hope that's not going to continue!

My accommodation for the night. €17.

     

     Most of the restaurants and all of the shops are closed, the few places selling food that are open are chock-a-bloc. They definitely don't do Saturday nights here! 

     The 'click clack' sound of walking poles echoes everywhere, and the greeting of 'Buen Camino' is uttered by everyone you pass. 'Good luck on your travels ' it's all very friendly. 

     Breakfast in the morning consists of just fruit juice and toast. At €10 that's a bit steep, so I passed. I'll grab a cheese and ham baguette and a coffee for half that price on the edge of town. 

There are signs like this everywhere.

     This my Official Pilgrim Passport. It gets stamped at cafes and hostals as I move along the Camino, as proof that I'm a genuine Peregrino and I can therefore access the cheaper rates for food and a bed. Yippee!

     Weather forecast for the trek over the mountains tomorrow first thing, is rain. With more rain.  Lovely...

Buen Camino!