Friday, December 22, 2006

WHERE TO IN 2007???








YES! YOU GUESSED IT - TO SPAIN TO FOLLOW THE FLECHAS AMARILLAS ONCE AGAIN.
It has been almost 5 years since I walked the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles and 2½ years since I walked the Via Touronensis through France and to Santiago from Sarria. In August/September Marion and I will walk the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles. Marion likes to hug trees and I know that there a couple of huge, ancient trees along the camino which she will just love to hug! I found a couple of photos of big trees on the Internet just for her! This will be a whole new experience for me. I have only walked in Spring - May, June and July - and I'm looking forward to the different landscapes of the summer and autumn. Also, a HUGE plus this time is that my darling husband, Finn, will join us to walk the last 114kms from Sarria. For the past four years I have been a camino junkie and besides the little library of books, videos, DVD, maps, brochures and posters, we have also hosted the annual St James Feast Day celebrations at our home on or about the 25th July. I am SO thrilled that he will be able share a small part of the camino experience with me.
Marion and I will fly to Pamplona and get a bus/taxi to Roncesvalles. We will walk to Sarria and Finn will join us to walk Sarria to walk to Santiago. We plan on hiring a car and will drive down to Finisterre and up the coast to Muxia and across to O'Cebreiro. Then we will take 4 or 5 days driving across the Camino Frances staying at Oviedo, Castrojeriz, Santo Domingo de Silas and another night at Roncesvalles before going back to Pamplona so that Finn can see more of the old pilgrimage trail.
In 2002 we walked from Roncesvalles to Santiago in 27 days - averaging 28km per day. This time I want to take it slowly and am planning to walk ± 20km per day. I want to stay at the little refuge close to the Eunate Church: also at San Anton refuge and at Manjarin with Tomas the Templar and other small places inbetween. Can't wait!!




4 comments:

  1. Hi and thanks for looking at my Paris Pilgrim site... no, I haven't seen the guidebook you refer to, but will look for it. All best on your planned 2007 adventure! Best, David Downie

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  2. Anonymous9:38 pm

    Magnífica página del Camino de Santiago, que yo celebro expresamente desde Roncesvalles, que irradia tantas cosas en tantas direcciones. Un saludo.

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  3. Anonymous2:32 am

    Hi Sil

    Reading this post took me back to the excitement of my planning some six months ago.

    Good luck with the planning. If I'm not on the trail myself this year (no definite plans yet) then I'll be following your progress here.

    John

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  4. I am very glad to read you intend to take it slowly.... I am thinking about doing at least some of the Camino next year, but walking a whole lot every day is not really my 'style' of travelling.
    I spent five weeks last year cycling in the Loire area. I did cycle over a 1000km, but my pace varied tremendously. Some days I cycled 60kms. Other days I used my campsite as a base, and maybe only cycled 10km to the next town where I spent the day exploring. And some days I even took the train into a nearby city to avoid cycling there. I am sort of thinking that that is the kind of slow way I would like to walk the Camino.... Since I have to fly all the way from the Antipodes, I see no need to rush!

    All the best for your pilgrimage, and I look forward to keeping up with your challenge on your blog.

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