Our Walk Along the Via Podiensis (GR 65)

Joining the Camino Frances Via Podiensis GR65 Pilgrimage Well, today on the Via Podiesis we connected the dots by arriving back at the place where we began the Camino Frances a year ago, and where we first heard of the beauty of the Le Puy Way. As always, coming to the end of an adventure was bittersweet, although we still had two days left. We shared a breakfast in our gite with the many many flies and our fellow hikers, and then headed out into the countryside for the final run into Saint Jean Pied de Port. As we left Ostabat there was a beautiful pink sunrise, although the day was generally overcast. Basque Countryside We left the road and walked along a forested track for a bit. The countryside looked magical cloaked in mist, with the white and red Basque houses, and the flocks of grazing sheep. The sound of bells on grazing animals in the mist, whether they are on sheep, horses, or cows, is something I will always associate with the Pyrenees. Although there wer...

Basque Country on the Via Podiensis Pilgrimage from Le Puy to the Camino Frances Today we got more stunning views of the Pyrenees … and what a view! It was a beautiful day, which began with breakfast at 6:00 AM. Quite a few people were up and breakfasting, but for the first couple hours of walking, we saw only one other hiker. We began with a short walk down the highway outside the gite, but soon turned off the main road, and then picked up a track which began climbing. As the sun rose pink in the east we were treated to some beautiful views of the mountains. We spent quite a bit of time enjoying the views from the first hill. As we descended we followed the signs for the Chapel of d'Olhaiby. This turned out to be a few meters off GR65 , behind a farm. It was a very nice-looking chapel from the outside, but sadly it was closed when we arrived. After the chapel, it was a pleasant walk along paved country lanes through the rolling hills of Basque  country, with the Pyren...