The Camino de Santiago de Compostela - The Way -- Getting to St Jean

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At last the day of departure has arrived and on this Monday, 17 August 2015, we took leave of our darling grand daughters and headed for the Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU). To make this get away we first had to load the bags and backpacks in the Veracruz along with Emily and drive to the Triangle Montessori School to pick up Madeline. Her daddy had packed a lunch and the girls would have lunch at the airport while watching the planes come and go. As a birthday/departure gift, son James, made a lovely wrist band with black and white photos of both girls that I now wear and can see as I move my arms with the poles while walking. What a great send off!

Our flight from RDU departs at 1540 but since we could not check in we must do so at the airport. We arrive a little before 1300 and are told to go from American to US Airways to check in. Not a long trek since they are side by side in terminal 2. We ask about having our bags labeled priority to help in our tight connection from London Heathrow (LHR) to London Stansted. We have 4 hours but it is about 2 hours transfer by bus and we must clear customs, immigration and get our bags on the bus. But back to RDU where the US Air agent advised us that he could assure nothing even with priority tag on the bags. But we can use the Admirals club. So we cool our heels in the very nice RDU Admirals Club clearing up email and reading old email. Our flight to Philadelphia (PHL) is right on time.

Here in PHL as I write this we first go to the Admirals club who inform us that we are flying British Air and would be remiss not to use their really superior lounge. They have a great coffee machine and wonderful buffet. So we went from A concourse left to A concourse right and found the British Air lounge. The young lady at the desk informed us that we would need to eat here as this is a sleeper flight and so no dinner will be served. The answer to a question Karen had asked on the flight to PHL. Now we know the answer. We are now settled in the lounge and were informed that the next serving will be at 1930. That is OK as our flight boarding is at 2120.

18 August 2016, Tuesday. Stansted UK. ????

WHEN DOES ONE BEGIN A PILGRIMAGE?

Karen here. I thought I would address this question later in the trip. I thought I might wax eloquently on the subject, perhaps as we trod over the high plateau area of The Camino called the meseta, where we walk 10 days without a rest day 😊

But, I will comment upon the question this evening. For those of you who know a little of our itinerary you might think we spent the late afternoon in the pleasant French village of St. Jean de Port. And that tomorrow we would stroll the countryside, register for El Camino walk and mentally prepare ourselves for the beginning of our adventure.

But no, we are at Stanstead Airport, in the rainy, gloomy environment of greater London. We knew we had a tight connection between Heathrow and Stanstead, that services Ryan Air that was to carry us to Biarritz, France for a car pick/up to St. Jean on the French-Spanish border.

We were directed to the Fast Track line in immigration that was much shorter than other lines but also much slower. Still hopeful, we proceeded to baggage claim to see only a handful of bags, circling ever so slowly around the carousel. Then it was to the baggage claim office where the finger pointing began. British Air claims their system never scanned the bags. Later in the day it appeared they had been sent to Toulouse, France, the nearest airport to St. Jean. Apparently that amazing decision was done as we had listed St. Jean as our final destination point. Toulouse is the closest British Air comes to the small village of St. Jean. At one point they indicated the bags were in Heathrow. We strongly suggested they, then, logically, be sent to us in Stansted, but logic does not enter the equation!

Meanwhile we had missed our bus to Stansted, where we were to board Ryan Air. Ryan Air said they could not issue a new ticket unless our bodies were in Stansted. We rebooked the bus and arrived at a very busy Stansted. Rebooked our flight to France and hoped the long lost luggage will find us before we leave.

I am wearing one pair of hiking shoes and also have on hiking pants but Harlan was dressed nicely---not for hiking! So, that is our saga.

Now, back to the original question of when one becomes a pilgrim on a particular trip. Some say it is when you start planning and thinking of the trip. Others say it is when you step outside your home door and take off. Others say it is when you are outside your comfort zone. That I am 😊 Well, I did not expect snafus quite so early!! So I am trying to have a more pilgrim attitude, stretch myself a little and expand past my typical responses to such events. But boy, I am thankful we are not traveling with small children!

Check in tomorrow and see what country we are in!!! Karen

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Photos

Wrist band photo of Madeline
Madeline on my wrist

wrist band photo of Emily
Emily on my wrist

Comments

[Marta & Mike Hurwitz]

OMG, I think you are definately Pilgrims already!!! We hope Harlan won't have to start his Walk wearing a burlap robe and monk's sandals!!, we hope to hear better news tomorrow. In the meantime, the power of those darling wrist photos should bring a smile to your faces once you can get on the Path to start your Trek.

[Carolyn Schmalz]

Trip
Love your blogs. Nothing like losing luggage. Have been through that so you have my sympathy. We miss you two but hope all has turned out good. Keep the blogs coming.