We got a special opportunity to meet with Brad Kyle, author of “Memoirs of a Pilgrim” and a number of Children’s story books. We had a great time catching up over coffee and croissants and to hear of Brad’s experiences as a Pilgrim. Brad’s book was an inspiration to us to follow his footsteps on the Camino and he allowed us through his book to get a glimpse of the raw emotions he personally experienced whilst on his personal journey along the Camino. Thanks Brad and Ruth for your time and hospitality and we’ll keep in touch!

www.roadtosantiago.com.au

Brad Kyle – Author of “Memoirs of a Pilgrim” and a number of children’s books

Went to book the bikes for us to cycle across 200+ kms of the Meseta (Plains in Spain), but they needed our address details for drop off and pickup. So this resulted in needing to book accommodation at each end of our cycling stint.

Typical bikes we will be hiring – This is also Camino Country

Burgos – Hotel La Puebla

We have planned 2 days in the city of Burgos which marks the beginning of the Meseta. The 2 days also gives us a full days buffer in case we are lagging behind. Otherwise it will give us an opportunity for rest and site seeing with the city offering plenty to do.

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Preparations are well underway with our first lot of accommodation booked to get us started.

St Jean Pied de Port

Maison d’Hôtes Ziberoa – St Jean Pied de Port

Firstly, we need a bed for the night of our arrival at the official starting point of St Jean Pied de Port. Looks like we will arrive late afternoon on the 7th May 2013. We have booked a lovely looking (and going from the reviews on trip adviser) and inviting B&B for the night. We intend to eat dinner and breakfast at the B&B as the reviews raved about how good a cook the hostess is.

Marie Josée Lagord – Hostess

Orission

After reading lots of forum posts and guide books, it was very apparent that the first day on the Camino from St Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles is extremely tough and whilst we like a challenge, have conceded that we need to break ourselves in gradually, so have booked beds at a little hamlet 9km out from St Jean Pied de Port halfway up the Pyrenees at a place called Orisson.

Orisson Refuge

Orisson Refuge Dinning Room

Roncesvalles

Whilst we have every intention to mix it will “real” pilgrims and experience life on the Camino at Albergue/Refuge (hostel) type accommodation, we’ve decided to ease ourselves in to the pilgrim life. Our first taste will be at Orission, but when it comes to Roncesvalles, the thought of 138 beds in 3 columns of double bunks in a single room on our 2nd night was enough for us to consider alternate accommodation. This has resulted in us pre-booking a room in a private hotel in Roncesvalles for that evenning.

Roncesvalles Albergue

Hotel Roncesvalles – Room

Hotel Roncesvalles – Sitting