It will be a year, almost to the day, since my friend Jill and I travelled to St Jean Pied de Port to walk the 800 km Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela. What a great adventure that was - and how lucky we were to walk that path together. And to be welcomed in the square outside the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela by Jill's husband, and my friend, Martin, with green and gold tinselled posters, balloons and an Australian flag! I still get goosebumps and a big smile just thinking about it.
About 18 months earlier, in the northern autumn of 2011, I'd walked the Camino Frances for the first time. When I set out from SJPP on a late September day, I had no idea what was ahead. I remember feeling anxious, excited and alone. I took a deep breath and started walking. I could not have imagined then that The Way would sit so naturally with me. So much so, that I would find myself walking the Camino Frances again in April 2013 and now ready to embark on a third and different Camino just a year later.
My plan this time is to walk the Camino Le Puy, approx 750 km across the south west of France from Le Puy en Velay to SJPP. From there, I will cross the Pyrenees once more and hope to walk for around two weeks on one of the 'other' camino routes in Spain. Yes there is more than one! At this stage, I'm thinking it will be the Camino Primitivo, a 320 km route from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela. Or perhaps it will be another path. No need to decide that now - that freedom is one of the many things I love about the Camino.
In the next few days, I'll write a post with a little more information on the main Camino routes of France and Spain, and another on how to post a comment on the blog, if you'd like to. So watch this space.
Whether you follow this blog each day, or visit from time to time, I hope you will enjoy the adventure. Who knows what lies ahead? Pas moi. Not me.
J. x
PS. My earlier Camino blogs can be found here:
Jenny en Camino Frances 2011
Jenny and Jill en Camino Frances April 2013
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| The road from Hontanas to Castrojeriz, on the Camino Frances. A painting by Libby Mewing, from a photo taken on Jenny and Jill's Camino April 2013. Thank you J and M. x |
Hi Jenny - I know you will be full excitement this trip. I am looking forward to following you - hearing the daily news from each day's walk. Is there a map you can link me to so I can see where you are walking? Much love S xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, you are the first to comment! Well done. I'm going to do a post in the next day or two that includes a map. Thanks so much for your kind wishes. You are always a wonderful Camino supporter.
DeleteLot of love
Jenny
Bonjour Jenny,
ReplyDeletei read your blogs, very interesting.
I am sure you will be very happy to walk Le Puy route. Beautiful, deep France with quiet places. Take your time even at the departure in Le Puy, spectacular city !
See you in Saint Jean 29th april before your Camino Primitivo.
Pierre
Thankyou Jay. Bev. and I helped each other and here we are. Looking forward to each morning's message. Lots of love Mum xxx
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm so looking forward to following you all the way. Le Puy-en-Velay looks beautiful!
ReplyDelete