Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

June 9, 2026 – Mauléon-Licharre to Larceveau – 27 kms – Logis Hotel Restaurant Espelletenia

June 10, 2026 – Larceveau to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – 25 kms – Les Chemins d’Elika

June 11, 2026 – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Bordeaux – train ride – Unforgettable Stay Heart of Bordeaux apartment 

Gordon: Yesterday we arrived in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, our destination for this pilgrimage.  We walked or cycled a little more than 1000 kms over 41 days to get there.

It’s our fourth time in Saint-Jean: twice it has been the end of a pilgrimage, once it was the start, and on one trip we were passing through.  It’s a beautiful, fortified frontier town, but we always have mixed emotions about being there.  This time we were completing an exceptional Camino that unfurled without any significant problems, but it was still sad not to be continuing over the Pyrenees to Spain with the other pilgrims this morning.

The last few days into Saint-Jean were a bit challenging, because of the significant climbs and some wet weather.  On the other hand, when the rain stopped we were treated to some great views of this attractive area.  This is the Basque Country, with its distinctive houses, tongue twisting place names, and general air of well-organized prosperity.

We arrived in Saint-Jean a couple of days ahead of our original plan, giving us more than a week before we must be in Toulouse for our return flight.  We tossed around several options for that time, finally settling on a train to Bordeaux and a walk and ride up the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi towards Toulouse.  We had a stressful hour when one of our trains was cancelled due to a national strike, but with the assistance of the Pilgrim Office in Saint-Jean we were able to get onto another train.  Ruth made a generous donation to the Pilgrim Office, and this afternoon we arrived in Bordeaux, ready for our next mini-adventure.