Three days ago I think I committed to walking next year. I say ‘think’ because nothing seems certain at present. Covid has taught us that. So here we are looking to 2023 to complete what we were hoping to start and finish two years ago. We are both a few years older and once again we are hoping to get fit enough to be able to complete one of the more challenging but most beautiful of caminos, the Camino Via Podiensis from Le Puy to St Jean Pied de Port. Then somehow (we have not sorted it yet) we hope to go via the Camino del Norde to walk into Santiago de Compostella. Time is an issue… we will run out of visa in Europe, so do we go to Ireland and come back to finish?
Europe is no longer the Europe of several years ago with Russia and Ukraine at war, Covid everywhere and a major recession on our doorstep. Will the war spread? Will the virus? Neither seems keen to stop … so, while to an outsider, buying a rain jacket and boots looked small, it was the start of a number of big first steps. The training sessions over the next 36 weeks has started slowly… visits to doctor and chiro and podiatrist and knee specialist for strengthening exercises… do I really want to start? Looking at dates for departure and return. Visiting relatives and friends in different parts of Europe… accommodation options, costs with soaring inflation and the exchange rate …
So, we are ready to go; tickets to buy, places to book and that sense of excitement which comes with any big challenge. We have even started French lessons again. Bien Chemin!
pindun on the road to Santiago de Compostella 