u/Acrobatic_Set8085

I started walking yesterday from Pamplona to Puente La Reina. Had wanted to start in St Jean but scheduling reasons made me pick Pamplona. Having climbed up to Perdón and back down - I don’t think I would have made it all the way to Roncesvalles. 

Spent the night in a private room on Calle Mayor. Was nice enough. Went to church at 7.30 - I’m an ex Catholic but have never heard a service in Spanish. 
The church is VERY opulent on the inside. 
The service was lovely, the priest spoke of friendship and the nobility of being friends with God but also reminded everyone that this friendship comes at a cost. Sacraments, leading a noble life and going to church. He put a lot of emphasis on community. A community anyone can be part of. 

I obviously didn’t partake in the communion but when he called all pilgrims to the front I went. He welcomed us all, asked where we were from, was grief stricken that there was not a single Spaniard. France, Italy, big Australian crowd. 

Then he put a cross around our necks and welcomed us all into the family. 

I had a lovely 2 minute conversation with a fellow pilgrim from New Zealand. 

Afterwards I went in search of some bodies because I was packed full with impressions and wanted to talk to someone- alas - nothing. I didn’t find any pilgrims. Ended up in a lovely wine bar on Calle Mayor with phenomenal food. Expensive. But really good food and wine was 3 Euros by the glass. 

A good first day.

700 grams maybe. Is it worth it?

I’ll be carrying a backpack maybe 10kgs with bottle pockets that I cannot reach while on.
My pack doesn’t have a dedicated hydration bladder place, it would have to go in with gen pop in the main compartment.
No problem, I’ll go and buy a bottle shaped solution to go in the bottle pocket and the hose over my shoulder. Maybe even insulated.

I must be missing something - why am I not finding anything? What’s the mainstream solution? How do y’all stay hydrated without taking the pack on and off?

I am undecided - I may sometimes want to carry my pack - other days send it ahead.

is there a smaller kind of daypack I could carry in my main pack on those days where I carry? could I get away with a smaller kind of messenger bag for the days I send the main pack ahead? Other ideas?