27th April Birmingham New Street Station!

Here's Jenny back in Blighty pour une semaine. Got to get French out of the system now and do some intensive swotting up of Spanish ready for next week.

It is such a luxury to be able to update the blog anywhere and any time using the iPhone. It turned out to be far too expensive to use in France. I wonder what system our follower 'Kiwi Nomad' used for her comprensive blog in 2009? There is so much missing because of the long intervals and inevitably the moment passes. But huge thank you to Chris for uploading the photos which help fill the gaps.

I spent last night in an inelegant hotel near the airport in Biarritz. It turned out to be 2km from the airport but on a major dual carriageway with very scary fast traffic whipping up a wind past me as the sole nutty pedestrian. But I have just walked 500km through France so I was darned if I was going to get a taxi to take me a puny 2km! Definitely the most dangerous undertaking of the journey so far.

I've had many thoughts as to whether interrupting the pilgrimage at this point will affect the flow. It takes time to walk into the right frame of mind and more single minded pilgrims would say that doing the Camino in bits (which many people do) does not provide the same contemplative experience. But I'm pleased to have this small break and reflect on the last few weeks. My body is certainly grateful for a rest! I found sitting in the plane excruciating. Just couldn't keep still as I'm so used to being on the move. All my muscles are aching - it seems worse when I'm not moving.

Having experienced the pilgrim frenzy in St Jean, it is clear that the Spanish part of the journey is going to be a whole new ball game. More people, more nationalities, more communal living and more refuges/gites to choose from. So it feels good to me to punctuate it with a gap. Gives me a chance to offload more stuff. One set of clothes to walk in and one to change into. The more stuff you have the harder it is to keep track of in communal sleeping arrangements.

The last refuge in St Jean was a nightmare. People getting up from 4am onwards in order to beat the crowds and get up and over the Pyrenees in order to ensure a bed at the monastry in Roncevalles. Apparently, there are 150 beds - all in the same room no doubt. Mo and I were last to leave feeling absolutely shattered and feeling so relieved that we weren't scheduled to get over the mountain on that particular day!

As for me - Mo - I was picked up by Sharon and Paul and taken to Pamploma to spend a week in an appartment and hang out, walking, eating, sightseeing. Such a break from the daily routine of arriving at a destination, finding food, a bed and then a bed and food options for the following day. Not much time to say much on blogs. So it was photos every day from Jenny texted to Chris for him to keep the blog going. Throughout we have met people who have talked about the power of the camino and the coincidences that happen along the way. My coincidence is that my sister in law Kit happens to be in St Jean Pied de Port on 3rd May when I return to wait the return of the others. Kit is walking from the Atlantic to the Med. through the Pyrenees. Our itinerary was drawn up completely independently and we find ourselves in the same place at the same time. Make what you will.

I am beginning to realise that my French that was beginning to improve will be of little value in Spain. I am desperately learning basic phrases to get by. Sharon and Paul are helping and also ensuring that my walking muscles continue to work. Mo