Saturday, March 31, 2012

Roads travelled thus far and the road to come.


Since first hearing about the Camino back in 2004 I have been privileged to make three Caminos - each one longer than the last, and each one having fewer pilgrims than the one before.  However 2012, in many respects, is very definitely going to be the "Road Less Travelled".  Though still a pilgrimage, it is not on the Camino.  Instead, the destination is Rome, on a path called the Via Francigena - officially from Canterbury to Rome, but as I will be in London with a few days to spare I will begin there? 

I estimate that it will be about 2,200kms in length, due to the extension from London, but also a detour that I intend to make through the Western Front.  When I arrive in Calais, instead of going "straight on" I will turn left and head to Dunkerque.  From there I will head across to Iper (formerly Ypres) in Belgium where I hope to attend the last post ceremony at the Menin Gate, before heading off to France in a zig zag pattern through the Western Front so that I can visit the important Memorials along the way, to the prime destination for this part of the journey – Villers-Brettoneux.  Here I will attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial before picking up the Via Francigena again and heading through France, over the Col St Bernard in the Swiss Alps and ultimately Rome.

Except for the few kilometres that I have walked around London, this path is totally new to me.  I am expecting to see a few walkers as I make my way down the Thames and along the North Downs Way to Dover, and I suspect that I will see many Aussies and Kiwis on the Western Front, but once I leave that, I suspect that the only people I meet, until I get near the Alps, will be the locals.  This Pilgrim's Path is not well travelled compared to the Camino and so having had little chance of a good English conversation for about 7 weeks I will be no doubt very glad to meet my sister Carol and sister in law Elizabeth, when they join me in Pavia in Northern Italy. 

7 comments:

  1. Have a good journey, will be watching.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have a wonderful time! look forward to your blogs. Sue

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your itinerary looks amazing, Janet! I can't believe how long you'll be on the road. I'm looking forward to following your blog. Travel safely. One day it will be my turn.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy Easter Janet, looking forward to watching your progress and hearing about it. Take Care and happy walking. Will miss you next term . Glenis and Michael

    ReplyDelete
  5. My husband Gord and I start the same route in July so we will be reading with great excitement. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Janet, I am so happy to be involved in your travels and I am looking forward to reading your journal (blog). Have a fabulous trip. Geraldine (French class)....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow Janet, it has finally begun after so much planning. Jen B. sent me your itinerary and hence I found your blog which is going to be fantastic. Have a safe journey. I'm really looking forward to "walking" with you via cyber space, cheers Joy.

    ReplyDelete