St Jean-de-Pied-Port Once Again
And then we arrived in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
For us, this was no ordinary stop. Twelve years earlier, this little Basque town had been the starting point of our very first Camino. It was where we began walking the Camino Francés, never really knowing how much that experience would change our lives. We had no idea then that it would awaken a love affair for long-distance walking that would stay with us for years. A sabbatical with a walk-about has become our trademark.
And now, after walking the Le Puy route across France, we had come full circle. The place where one Camino had begun was now the ending place of another—something wonderfully poetic about that.
I was excited to have reached our destination, but I also found myself reluctant to stop. I had imagined the satisfaction of finishing, and it was certainly there, but I hadn’t quite prepared for the feeling of wanting the journey to continue. Tom felt the same way. In fact, we walked a bit up the Camino Frances on one of the days we were in St Jean. After all those miles, the daily rhythm of walking had become such a part of us. Imagining that tomorrow we wouldn’t simply get up, shoulder our packs, and head down the trail again was difficult.
Our friends were waiting for us along the road as we came into town. What a welcome sight they were! We must have looked a bit bedraggled after all those miles, but I don’t think there could have been a more beautiful sight to us than seeing them there, waiting. It was a moment filled with happiness, relief, and the satisfaction of having made it together.
As we walked through town, we couldn’t help noticing the other pilgrims. It was easy to tell who was starting their Camino and who had already walked hundreds of miles. The newcomers looked fresh and excited, their packs still neat and their shoes relatively clean. Those of us who had been on the trail for a while carried a different look. Our clothes, shoes, and packs told a story of miles traveled, weather endured, and days spent putting one foot in front of the other. We recognized that look immediately.
Being back in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port brought back so many sweet memories of our first Camino. We remembered the excitement of setting out into the unknown and the way that first journey had opened a door for us. Little did we imagine then that we would return years later, having walked so many more miles and carrying so many more memories.
We planned to stay in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for a few days, giving ourselves time to enjoy the town and let the experience of finishing settle in. Then we would board a train for Barcelona, where an entirely new adventure awaited us.
It seemed fitting that our journey through France should end here. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port had once been the beginning of our love affair with the Camino. Now it had become the place where another wonderful walk ended.
But perhaps that is the magic of the Camino. The end of one walk doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the journey. Sometimes it simply reminds you how much you love the road—and makes you wonder where it might take you next.
You are loved…
