New to list - Spring 2002

[Robert E. Spenger]

Richard,

I would recommend starting from the city of Pau. It provides several days
of walking in France and offers two options for crossing the Pyrenees. It
is on the Arles route which normally crosses at Somport, but, from Oloron,
it is only a day's walk to switch over to the route from Le Puy in order to
follow the currently more popular route through Saint Jean Pied de Port.

April is rather early to cross the Pyrenees, but is not likely to be a
problem to a Colorado resident. The only drawback is that you would have to
carry the additional weight of cold weather gear.

I did the Arles route in 2000, crossing at Somport in mid May. At that time
the weather was great.

R. Spenger

Richard Ferguson wrote:

> I just joined the list, and I intend to walk in Spring 2002, probably
> April.  I plan to start on the French side, probably a few days walk
> from the border, suggestions accepted.  I plan to walk alone, though I
> know that I will meet people on the road.
>
> I have had a dream to walk the route for a few years.  I just recently
> got serious about it, including buying a half dozen books, and last week
> I got an early retirement offer!  I guess that is a sign that I'm going.
>
> I speak fluent Spanish and some French.  I have experience with
> international travel, mountaineering, climbing, etc. The spiritual
> aspects of the camino will be more of a challenge for me, I think.
>
> Richard Ferguson
> Boulder Colorado