News

Archive

Results

Profiles

Touring

Forum

Photos

Calendar

Part 2                  SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (1)       With thanks to Bill Morrissey.         Part 3
The idea of doing this expedition was in gestation for a long time and subject to much discussion before it hardened into a real plan. We were thinking of the pilgrimage of  St  James  of  Compostela.    Santiago Cathedral                                               The Pilgrims included Matt O Brien, [IMC.IVCA] Kieran  O'mara [IVCA] Bill Sleater [ IVCA] and  Bill Morrissey[IMC,IVCA] St James was buried in Santiago in north western Spain and routes of pilgrimage exist across Europe since the Middle Ages to his resting place.	All the main routes from England and France converged into a common way in Roncesvalles, a small village in the Pyrenees adjacent to the French Spanish border.  This was an obvious starting point for us as its distance from Santiago was, we felt,within our capacity .  We would travel by car to Roncesvalles and cycle from there. The month of May was chosen in anticipation of fair weather and an uncrowded route. As it happened the timing turned out to be the right decision. The first stamp on the Camino passport  was secured at St. James Gate Brewery.  It is necessary to secure stamps enroute to enable the authorities in Compostela to issue a Certificate that you had completed the route  and met  the   conditions of the pilgrimage. The principle conditions were to walk ,cycle or go on horseback.                                                    Careful and meticulous loading of the bikes on the roof of our vehicle, a Volvo, proved a secure and safe means of transporting the machines.  Ringaskiddy  was the first stop to catch Brittany ferries "Ile de France" a giant size modern craft. A good dinner and sound sleep were behind us at 8 am Sunday morning as we embarked on the Autoroute for the Spanish Border and Roncesvalles, the official start.	500 miles and 11 hours later we pulled in to the mountain village. High in the mountains the heavy rain and low cloud which greeted us were not inspiring. But the "La Posada " bar cum hostel cum restaurant dispelled the gloom. The Pilgrims Food and drink were excellent at very modest prices. The dining room in dark oak was reminiscent of a medieval refectory.   Roncesvalles was in its time on the periphery of the civilised world and stood between it and the rampaging Moors. The big stone buildings which are a feature of this outpost doubled as fortresses and places of refuge in their time.  Charlemagnes  rearguard was slaughtered here by the Moors  as he retreated across the Pyrenees .