[Gocamino] Starting just on the French side?

[Richard Ferguson]

I continue to try to figure out what I want to do.  I want to walk in 
France, but it is expensive.  My spouse had a practical suggestion, 
which was to walk a few days in France, cross the border, and 
continue walking in Spain.   That way I would spend some time in 
France without blowing my budget. This would also have me in shape 
before I cross the Pyrenees.  I have not seen that area.  It all 
sounds good. So I am trying to figure out how I might do this.

My initial take is that I could start 115 km north of Roncesvalles, 
on the Le Puy route, around Maslacq.  For me, that would be 6 days 
walk to Roncesvalles.  Amazingly, the SNCF (French rail) web site 
says that I can get there from Madrid in 8 hours!  The first train 
would get me from Madrid (Atocha) to the border near Irun, from 
whence I could take a local train and then a bus to Argagnon, a few 
km from Maslacq.

Not sure how far I would walk.  I would probably figure to spend two 
or three weeks walking, perhaps as far as Burgos, and then head back 
to Madrid and then home.

Does this plan make any sense?  Is that area particularly attractive 
or unattractive?  What do I need to know?  I might be doing this in 
October or early November, so I know that I could see snow, or even 
have to wait out some weather.   Will the gites be open?  I speak 
enough French to ask directions and understand the answers.

I think that I read that someone had done something similar to this, 
just so that they would not have the cross the mountains on the first 
day.

Richard


-- 
http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
Sculptures in copper and other metals