Castle Camino

       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. The...

     There are a million pages on the internet dedicated to what kit you should pack for the Camino. There are another million dedicated to what not to take. There is no straight, definitive answer of course, but it should be borne in mind that whatever you pack...and you can take anything you want...you will be carrying it...for 500 miles, so really...it's all about the weight.      So for better or for worse, this is what I will be taking.   Waterproof inner rucksack cover by Osprey.  First Aid Kit. Paracord clothes line. Nurofen and sun cream. Spare glasses. Power pack and leads. Wall socket adaptor. Kinesiology and Zinc tape. Nail clippers. Ear plugs. Sewing kit. Nappy pins for hanging clothes.  Loo Roll. Folding mug. Spare laces. 2nd Pic Hiking socks. Pants. Shower shoes. Shorts. Body wash. Soap. Towel. Hiking brolly. Quick dry shirt. Wicking T shirt. Base layer Fleece.  ...

  St-Jean-Pied-du-Port - Santiago de Compostela      St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France is a small town at the foot of the Great Pyrenees mountain range. 200m above sea level. The small village of Roncesvalles in Spain, sits at a level of 900m and is 25.5 km away. (16 miles)      Between them is the Col de Bentartea at 1390m. The path over this mountain is called  'Route Napoleon' a constant 20km (12 miles) climb from St Jean Pied de Port.  The route is named because of its strategic importance during the Napoleonic wars. A very sound war strategist, but also a very cheeky chap called Napoleon, used it to successfully cross into Spain during the Peninsular War of 1808 -1813. Emperor Charlemagne was bouncing around this part of the world as well. Although they didn't meet, he was a thousand years earlier.     There will be an opportunity to get a hot drink and a snack after 8km (5 miles) at the...