Setting off

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8.am Monday morning.

Bag packed, grass cut, bathroom cleaned, rubbish put out, cats 'Broadlined'. Only thing to sort out now is me. The most challenging bit!

Picked up rucksack and did last-minute check. Everything fine, shut Yale door. Hoist rucksack on back. Hands free. Ah, handsfree. Hand luggage forgotten.



Hand luggage, that is, that contains phone, tablet, map for first days walk, guide book to route and last but not least Maltesers, minstrels and chocolate caramel biscuits supplied by Chloe and Jordanna with lots of love to keep me going. On the bright side I had remembered the key. Phew. Rucksack off etc etc.



A few last minute messages from Alfreton station whilst aiting for the9.03 to Peterborough and off I went.

Journey was smooth and uneventful in a good way and before you know it we are dealing towards the red grooves and river of Biarritz ?.

First fellow pilgrim friend made at Biarritz airport. I went out of one door to look for transport and didn't know what I was doing, he went out of one door looking for transport and didn't know what he was doing. I came back through another entrance to find out as did he. You could say like the proverbial weather men. Both looking suitably lost and with rucksacks we made acquaintance to discover we are both Peregrinos ie pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Decided to share a taxi but at 28 Euros did a rapid U-turn found the bus and went for 1 euro each. Only thing is it took forever and although I'm staying the night here he has a train to catch so everything crossed he got it.

Boudoir

Just settled into small and basic but cosy hotel room to pick up messages and update you all via this blog. Soft furnishings very red, so lucky it's my favourite colour!

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