Pilgrim passport makes me official

Have made it to my starting point of Saint Jean Pied de Port, surviving Stanstead renovations and a stag party infested Ryan Air flight. Got here late last night, in time to check in at the pilgrims office and get my passport then spend the night tossing and turning with every possible combination of jet lag, nerves, excitement and slight panic at the rain lashing at the window all night.

Apparently the scenic mountain pass is closed due to heavy snow, so a lot of day one is going to be spent traipsing along the side of a road. Hey ho.  On the upside it is slightly flatter and I will get to try out the new poncho which I am ridiculously excited about.

So, breakfast is done. The Cossie-lookalike in the hotel has been petted to within an inch of his life and there is nothing else to it.  So in the genius words of Dusty Springfield (who has been on loop in my head for the last 24 hours) … Are you ready boots? Start walking.

Correction: as my dad kindly pointed out, these are the genius words of Nancy Sinatra, not Dustgy Springfield who will have to be content with her preacher men. Oops!