Woken to Gregorian chants today, that and gales! Off with a few fellow pilgrims to the panaderia for coffee and croissants. Ulf (Norse for wolf) was an intense guy from Germany that I agreed to set off with. First via the water taxi across the river and then we agreed to take the scenic coastal route despite the wind! Ulf was on his second Camino and explained that he suffered from depression and thought walking was better than drugs or therapy. I’m not sure,...

The albergue guy woke us all at 7am, offering a basic breakfast of coffee, bread and kiwi jam! Then out of the door at 8am. The Camino route passes by so just follow the yellow scallop shells, arrows and blobs. I was wondering what weather was coming up as it was very grey and was soon walking in step with Sofia and Elisabet from Freiburg, Germany. Sofia was chatty with good English. Unfortunately for her she had made last minute plans for 10 days on the Camin...

68 years young yesterday. Today it was 1 degree C when I left home. I’m taking trains Reading > London > Paris > Hendaye. Then a short walk across the bridge into Irún on the northeast corner of Spain, where I hope it is a little warmer! My first night will hopefully be spent in an albergue (pilgrim hostel) but you can’t book in advance and I’m arriving quite late in the evening. Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day - very fitting for an old crock setting out...