Friday, May 2, 2014

Camino Le Puy (Chemin du Puy)

My rest day in St Jean Pied de Port was anything but restful. It was a busy, emotional, funny, exhausting and happy day. I walked out to meet Sheryl and Glenn as planned and we walked back in together in the rain. It struck me that the grey skies and persistent rain were just as it was when we (Sheryl, Glenn, Jill and I) set out from this town on 1 April last year, though not quite as cold. 

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch together - sharing the highlights of our time on The Way since we'd last been together on Day 7. They were taking the late afternoon train to Paris then on to Antwerp tomorrow to visit Carlo - and invited me to come with them. I thought about it over lunch but decided to stay on The Way for a while longer. There is already talk of the next Camino possibilities. You never know. Tout est possible au Chemin. 

Seeing Sheryl and Glenn again today, hearing from Ana asking whether I might come to Barcelona before I return home, saying au revoir to Delphine and others at dinner tonight, making plans with Dominique for an early start tomorrow to walk the Route Napoleon across The Pyrenees into Spain - the Camino is all about the people - the ones you meet along The Way and the ones you miss from home. 

A dear friend said to me a few weeks ago, 'I read the words and I see the pictures, but I know some days are really hard'. And they are. And it's not usually because of the long distance, the pack that's just a bit heavier than it should be, the tough terrain, the thick mud or the persistent rain. The hard days are when you've walked alone for three days, but feel more lonely sitting at dinner with 10 people who are speaking a language you don't understand. Or when you see something so stunningly beautiful or find yourself in such a special place (for example, the l'Alchimste gite) that you want someone from your 'real life' to be with you to bear witness to the experience. Or you accidentally delete the photos from the l'Alchimiste gite that you would love to have seen and shared - and hopefully still will. Or you think of home and feel you are away too long. 

But thanks to so many people, I had very few really hard days. Most days, I was just happy to be walking in the unique - and now familiar - way that the Camino offers. And mindful of how fortunate I am to have the time, the resources and the good health to be able to do it. 

So thank you to my Camino angels who made this another wonderful adventure for me - Sheryl, Glenn, Carlo, Sive, Mary-Rose and Brian, Ana, Natalie, Valerie, Sylvie and Jean, Evelyne, Elena, Jean-Phillipe, Veronique, Simone, the three ladies in the Gite Communal at Mirramont, Jean-Gatean, Emmanuel, Max and Sebastian, Dominique, Delphine and Pierre. 

With not too many pilgrims, and 95% of those French speaking, the connection to home was especially important for me this time.  BIG THANK YOU you to all my family and friends, and friends of friends, who have been 'following' me along The Way - and for your kind and enthusiastic messages. And special thanks to Clare and Richard for taking such wonderful care of Zoe and Zac. I've missed them, but have known they are in good hands and having a fine time!

I expect this will be my last update. I plan to continue on The Way for the next 4-5 days, walking the first 100 kms or so of the Camino Frances, for the third time. I may be tempted to add a few photos but, as for the words, I've said enough for now. More than enough!  

A bientot. Hasta Luego. 

J x

PS. I left two things in St Jean Pied de Port. To thank Pierre for his kindness, I bought with me from home a CD of Gurrumul Yunupingu with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. I gave it to Pierre last night and he seemed very happy to receive such a gift. When I went into his store today, the music was playing. He said it is 'tres tranquille', good for calming pilgrims who are often coming in to the store stressed as they are about to begin their daunting adventure! 

The second thing I've left is a little white stone, which I placed in the pavement of Rue de Citadelle - see the last photo. It has travelled from home and all along The Way. Who knows where it will end up but, for now, it is part of this pilgrim town. 




































3 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your arrival into SJPP - seems appropriate for it to be a day of mixed of emotions. Georgia and I ran into Jill and Coach Martin at a coffee shop in Willoughby this morning - right at about the time your post was due to come through. Lovely to see them as always. Looking forward to hearing what decisions you make for the next few days. Cx

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  2. It's been lovely following the blog Jenny. Enjoy the rest of your time on the way.

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  3. Mes félicitations ma grande soeur!!!! Bisous bisous bisous, kisseesss from Barcelone.

    Ana

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