Tuesday 10 December 2013

Via Podiensis (November 5, 2013) - Day 58 Urhad Mixe to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

I'm here...success!!! Over the past 58 days of walking just under 1,600 official kilometres I have walked across Switzerland, a good part of France and completed 3 Caminos...Via Jacobi, Via Gebennensis and Via Podiensis (The Puy route).

In the past 8 days alone I have walked 245 kms or an average of 30.6 kms...that kind of distance was not in the plan however the planning went out the window some time ago!

Today was another really tough day...it rained all night and the wind was howling. This morning the wind was still really strong and it was pouring out there. 

At breakfast Anna was in obvious difficulty and could not walk. Marie and Jean-Michel had some soreness in their backs and the prospect of walking in this terrible weather resulted in their decisions to take the bus to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Claude reluctantly agreed to do the same to support Marie.

That left Cyrille, Samuel and me...I left at 7:45 as I found it difficult to get motivated in the midst of all this negative thinking. No way was I going to bus it in after coming this far.

NO PICTURES TODAY due to yesterday's rain and my camera being toasted...thankfully the pictures are ok as the photo card is still good.

When I left it was really bad out however I persisted and over time the rain let up a bit. I found the walking a real treat as I knew this part of the adventure was coming to a close...27 kms over 6.5 hours and I was there!

Tonight I will be going out for supper with Cyrille, Anna (if she is capable), Brook and Ruth ( who bused it in from a longer distance). 

Future Pilgrims

I am staying at the Erracladia B&B which is 100 meters or from la Porte de Saint Jacques...the official start for the Camino Frances. I am sharing a room with Cyrille for 60 euros per night including breakfast. Tim the owner is more fluent in English than in French and has been very helpful. Perfect way to end this portion of the walk!

Post walk

My final supper was a lot of fun...Brook and Ruth will return in spring to walk the Portuguese way...learned that Jean-Michel returned home to Switzerland for a few weeks...Anna's friend with whom she will walk the Camino Frances joined us at the end. Oh and my final Armagnac courtesy Brook.

Plans have been made...I am returning mid April to complete the Camino Frances and Camino Finisterre. My brother Marc will be joining me...will for sure be a good time...also Cyrille has been in contact and we hope to meet up in Cebreiro where he had to stop his walk to Santiago de Compostela due to injury...looking forward to that.

In a future blog prior to returning in the spring I will post some videos on my walking...pictures set to music. I expect that my exposure to System Architects will enable me to tackle this project using bug free software.

Finally I am unclear as to whether I will blog while in Spain or post walking as I have just done...need to reflect on this.

Thanks for following the blog, and for your comments. Wishing each of you and your respective families the very best over the special holiday season and into 2014!

10 comments:

  1. Guy, Thanks for all of your blogs. I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I hope your daughters wedding went well. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and good health, happiness and safe traveling in the new year. Oh ya.....Hope you have a happy birthday too.
    Linda

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    1. Thanks Linda...wishing you and your family and Rufus (?) the very best over the holiday season. Lise's wedding was super...everyone had so much fun...I got to walk Lise down the aisle I.e on the beach in a short sleeve shirt with no tie. I doesn't get much better than that.

      Take care,

      Guy

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  2. Guy, I enjoyed reading your blog and if you still see your Austrian Pilgrim friend, Frohe Weihnachten to her and a very Merry Christmas to you. Should you decide to blog during the CF, I will come along again. Blessings Ingrid

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    1. Thanks Ingrid...it was a pleasure meeting you and I also wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2014. I hope your Camino journeys were enjoyable...I will blog on the Camino Frances...I am not sure if I will blog on a daily basis or post Camino at home.

      Take Care

      Guy

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  3. Guy, Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I really enjoyed reading it.
    What an experience you have accomplished! Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday! All the best in the New Year.

    Laurie

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    1. Thanks Laurie,

      Wishing you and your family the very best over the holiday season. I'm sure the house is beautifully decorated and the gifts expertly wrapped...maybe a little better than mine!

      Take care,

      Guy

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  4. I too have been enjoying your blogs. I have been walking through Europe with you vicariously, through your stories and photos, in the comfort of my home. No blisters or sore muscles! I loved seeing the photos of your food (and the countryside). Congratulations to Lise and her new husband. Leonard and I will be in Winnipeg over the holidays and I hope that we can get together to hear some of your stories in person. Merry Christmas!
    Carol (and Leonard)

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    1. Hi Carol,

      Great to hear from you...believe you may have had some trouble getting out of Toronto due to the ice storm. Hopefully you made it in as we would really like to get together while you are in Winnipeg...yes I have some stories!

      Guy

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  5. Guy, I really enjoyed reading your blog the last few months. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas (and a Happy Birthday to you). Our Nutcracker count is now over 65! I may have to move to a bigger house.
    Angela

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    1. Hi Angela,

      Thanks for the birthday wishes and a belated Merry Christmas to you and family. Funny I was thinking about the nutcrackers just before seeing your email...65...not bad. If I see one in Spain I may well buy it nd hang it on my backpack!

      Have a great 2014 and say hi to everyone for me.

      Thanks

      Guy

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