Day One: St Jean to Roncesvalles

On the first day of our journey we walked 15.3 miles from France to Spain through the Pyrenees mountains. This is one of the most difficult days we will have, rising from 500' at St Jean Pied-de-Port (France) to 5,000' on the Spanish side. We made the walk in wind, rain, sleet, snow and high spirits. The Pyrenees are beautiful, the other pilgrims on the trail happy and supportive, but Roncesvalles was a warm and welcome sight.

Ben leaving France for the first time in months.

This is a communal place, you see strangers who can't even converse helping each other.

St Jean Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles