Posts

Welcome to Our Blog - Via Podiensis / GR65

Image
This blog describes our walk along the Via Podiensis also known as the GR65 from May - July 2017.   We hiked 736 km from Le Puy-en-Velay, France to Roncesvalles, Spain over 41 days, making a stop in Rocamadour, France along the way.   It was a wonderful experience.   For those of you interested in hiking the trail, we have included a description and review of the clothes and gear we took with us.   Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy! To follow our hike on the Via Podiensis / GR65 from Day 1 onward follow this Link. Other pilgrimages and hikes you might enjoy: To read about our hike on the Camino Primitivo from day 1 onward follow this Link. To follow our 2022 hike on the Camino Madrid from day 1 onward follow this Link . To follow our 2022 hike on the Camino San Salvador from day 1 onward follow this Link.  To follow our 2019 hike on the Camino Finisterre from Santiago to Muxia / Finisterre follow this Link . To follow our 2019 hike on the Camino Portuguese follo
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflections on the Via Podiensis / GR65 across France

Image
Since finishing our walk along the Via Podiensis and heading home we have been reflecting on the many different experiences and adventures we had along the way.   One of the most common questions we have been asked upon our return is whether it was 'as good as' the Camino Frances, which we walked last October, and whether we "liked it" as much.   Surprisingly, it is rather difficult to provide a simple and succinct answer to that question.   In short, the Via Podiensis was stunningly beautiful and very different than the Camino Frances , and we enjoyed it enormously.   As to how it compared to the Camino Frances ... here are some of our initial thoughts and impressions, largely unorganized and in no particular order .... The Trail The main trail from Le Puy en Velay to Roncesvalles is 774 km, which is similar in length to the Camino Frances. However, we found the terrain to be far more challenging, especially during the first two weeks.   The trail beg
2 comments
Location: 43000 Le Puy, France
Read more

Day 42 - Beyond the Way and Back on the Way : Roncesvalles to Bordeaux

Image
This morning the first alarm went off in the dormitory at 4:30 am. Its owner couldn't locate it, so it kept going at full volume until everyone was thoroughly awake. Since there was no point pretending, everyone decided to get up. We were once again reminded that it always takes a while for people to get into a routine of un-packing and re-packing their knapsacks that doesn't involve 4-5 attempts and utter chaos. We headed down to a somewhat meagre seeming breakfast in the hotel, and then reluctantly bid our new companions farewell and 'Buen Camino!' We had to be out of the dorms by 8, but our bus back to St Jean Pied de Port didn't arrive until 11, so we sat out front and watched the stream of eager and determined looking pilgrims heading off down the trail to Zubiri and beyond. As a final gift for us from St James, it began to pour and it was only about 10 degrees out. This made it very slightly easier not to simply get up and keep walking towards S
Post a Comment
Location: Bordeaux, France
Read more

Day 41 - The end of the Road (for us) : Orisson to Roncesvalles

Image
The alarms in the dormitory in Orisson began going off at around 5 am, even though breakfast wasn't being offered until 7. Quite a few people had decided that they needed to get an early start and didn't have time for breakfast. Although we can still remember what it was like to feel as though there was a rush to get there, this attitude was never present on the French part of the way. Our decision to head out before breakfast to avoid some of the worst heat was treated as scandalous, and I think some of our fellow hikers on the Le Puy way were worried for our survival. We stayed for breakfast, and to collect our picnic lunch, and when we finally headed out around 7:30 we were treated to a truly spectacular sunrise! As we climbed it felt like no matter where we looked there was incredible beauty. We remembered some of the contours of the path from the fall, but the views were entirely new and stunning. We also finally saw the Madonna statue that is featured in so ma
Post a Comment
Location: Roncesvalles, Navarre, Spain
Read more