Biking and Trains and Pools

[jim allen]

My son and I biked from Pamplona to Santiago in Sep 2000.  In Santiago we
walked down to the train station and got a schedule of trains to Madrid.
One train departing in the morning was supposed to allow bikes free.
However our information was not accurate and we could not get the correct
train which would allow bikes on board.  The information booth person at the
train station was not too friendly to English speaking Americans.  We
quickly rented a car from Avis and drove to Madrid with our bikes in the
back of the car.
Your comment about available pools brought a smile but I will let the
walking pilgrims comment on the availability of pools.  We swam in the one
river that Shirley MacLaine dipped in.
I have a diary of our trip that you can have if you contact me off
list(about 10 pages).

jallen08atampabay.rr.com

Jim Allen
Seminole, FL


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony McGinty" <AMcg65aAOL.COM>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 11:51 AM
Subject: Biking and Trains and Pools


> I'm planning to bike to Santiago from the South of France at the very
> beginning of May this year.
>
> A question about trains: After I arrive at Santiago, I'd like to take a
train
> back to France where I'll pack up my bike and fly back to the US. Can I
> assume that I will just be able to hop onto a train to return to France
with
> my bike, or do I need to make reservations and special arrangements in
> advance for my bike? Do Spanish trains generally carry baggage cars and
are
> they good about allowing bikes?
>
> A question about swimming: I'm a swimmer and am wondering if I'll be able
to
> find public pools (indoor or out) where I can do some laps in the towns
along
> the way from Roncevalles to Santiago. Any advice about finding them,
typical
> hours, whether they rent towels, etc. would be appreciated.
>
> Tony McGinty
> Rosendale, New York