Day 1 and Day 2

Forgot to say our prologue was 15 miles up to St Pancras.

Day1 Tues 3rd Sept UK to Biarritz

Up at 4am to get first tube train to St Pancras and 0701 Eurostar to Paris, collect bikes from despatch and then take a gentle ride across the city. On the way held up by a procession of ceremonial horses guards (followed by three municipal road sweepers clearing up the muck!). We also went past and paused outside Notre Dame Cathedral just as the bells were ringing at noon for the ´Angelus´.
At Gare de Montparnasse in time to dismantle bikes, put in cycle bags ready for TGV to Biarritz. Relieved to only have to remove front wheels. Other passengers on the train also heading for the Camino (some from Prague).
At Biarritz re-assembled the bikes on an empty platform and ride 4km to our hotel for the night.
Despite apprehensions about getting our non-booked bikes on the TGV it was an excellant day.
Our comment for the day was that everyone we met was very pleasant and helpful, a good omen for our cycling holiday/pilgrimage.

9miles - total 24miles.

Day2 Wed 4th Sept Biarritz to St Jean Pied de Port

Went to ¨La Poste¨ to send bike bags home using automated scales - it took three staff members to assist!
As with all journeys, getting out of town on the right road is the hardest bit. Soon we were on the road heading to St Jean Pied de Port - the official start of the Camino de Frances. When traffic died down we were able to enjoy a very pleasant ride through winding scenic valleys following river and railway. At St JPdeP we registered at the Pilgrim Bureau and got our Pilgrim Passes - complete with first stamp. We will be collecting further stamps as we go. This is will be required in Santiago as evidence that we have completed the journey. Stayed 4km out of town, but went back on bikes to SJPdeP for evening meal where we met and were greeted by many fellow travellers incl Australians, Swiss, and many other nations incl a few British. Back to Hotel and finished the day by eating ice-cream in the hotel garden at dusk.

Tomorrow we head over the Pyrenees and into Spain. Very French/Basque around here.

45miles - total 69miles

Tony and Dan - evening meal in St Jean PdeP