[Gocamino] Starting just on the French side?

[rspenger]

I had meant to sent this to the group but forgot how Gocamino aperates.

-----Original Message-----
>From: rspenger <rspenger at earthlink.net>
>Sent: Sep 16, 2008 7:42 AM
>To: Richard Ferguson <richard at fergusonsculpture.com>
>Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Starting just on the French side?
>
>The communal gites are usually fairly inexpensive, but it is best to make reservations, even this late in the year. MM-DD is a great help, even if you are just using the last 20 pwercent or so. By all means get the new MM-DD for the camino frances - before you leave SJPdeP. I looked for it too late, the bookstore and T.O. had just closed as I was on my way out of town a few days ago. I tried to find it in the local T.O recommended bookstores here in Pamplona late yesterday afternoon and they did not have it. I ended up with a Jakobsweg guide. Fortunately I can read German a little easier than I can read French, but I have learned to cope with MM-DD and I think that it would have much better information.
>
>Bob S.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Richard Ferguson <richard at fergusonsculpture.com>
>>Sent: Sep 16, 2008 7:09 AM
>>To: gocamino at oakapple.net
>>Subject: [Gocamino] Starting just on the French side?
>>
>>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
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