Day 1 of the Camino

Stage 1 – Roncesvalles to Imarcoain (just outside Pampolna)

Friday night Sheri got in from Hungry at 20h. Back at the house we enjoyed a great meal of grilled steak, potato salad and watermelon. Sheri didn’t spend much time at the table as she was feeling the stress of getting packed. Terri Lynn repacked for the umpteenth time in two weeks. Karin and I were packed already so we headed for bed – at least I did. Night owl Karin probably took a while to get that far.

Paul did pull up on schedule (6:45) with Sheri’s bike already on top of the van. The other three were loaded on the back rack. I believe all of our luggage (panniers) fit in the back of the van. The only things we had floating around our feet were helmets, biking shoes and water bottles or camelbacks.

Paul has ridden at least parts of the Camino so he knows what a pain it is to take the train or the bus with one’s bike so he graciously offered to take us to the starting point. His wife and a friend of hers were going to walk for a few days so were going anyway. They drove a car and dropped it off in Navarrete and then we took them to their starting point before driving on to Roncesvalles along some of the very same roads we would be riding on going in the other direction.

We didn’t make it to Roncesvalles in time to get our “credencials” before the placed closed for siesta/mid-day meal (which is dinner for me) between 2 and 4. So we had plenty of time to get our bikes together and grab a bite to eat. I was hungry for more but Terri Lynn was on our case saying that if we ate more we’d run out of energy.

Sheri, Karin, Alice Terri Lynn - we are ready to go

The roles are as follows:
Terri Lynn – self proclaimed captain of the group and the navigator
Sheri – the organizer, hotel manager and accountant
Karin – tourism guide (which is why she was on the internet in Roncesvalles and at our first hotel.) She also turned out to be our entertainment (at times unintended).
Alice – I’m just along for the ride

The sign says it is 790 kms to Santiago. That isn’t the route we are taking since we are scheduled to do 812 kms.

This was an easy day – mainly downhill. We started at over 1000 meters and ended up at 500 something. On my counter we went about 67 kms. It took us about 2:45 riding time and about 3 ½ hours total. We had a stretch break after about 12 kms and Sheri was having problems with her panniers so that was a couple of stops as well. It was also my 2^nd experience of riding with others. The first was on Friday morning when Karin and Terri Lynn took me out for an hour. I had to fight to stay on their wheel then and it was a sign of things to come.

The scenery was beautiful.

Once we turned off the main road we basically had the road to ourselves. We rode through a small gorge and past some rolling fields with huge piles of straw bales.

With our late start we didn’t get into the hotel until 19h45. Our bikes were stored in a little storeroom under the steps in the basement. They all fit but there was no chance of one of them falling over. This hotel was in an industrial area. The place was nice but all the restaurants (at least 3 of them) were closed. They are only open Monday through Friday. Fortunately we were close to the freeway and there was a restaurant (more like a greasy spoon café) next to that which was open. We had a beef stew that was very tasty and with lots of bread we got some carbs to go with the protein. I had fruit and yogurt for dessert. Back at the room I crashed.

Here's the link to the route that we followed http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/spain/roncesvalle/596060556