Tales from the Via Podiensis

Having walked along the Via Podiensis in France in 2018, I have wondered ever since whether I could encapsulate my journey into a series of blog posts. This is not as easy as some of you may think because each day on the route brought with it a myriad of new experiences, from the time that I left Le Puy until I arrived in Saint Jean Pied de Porte nearly 5 weeks later .

Rather than blog in real time (which I felt would detract from my time on the route), I have waited until I felt that I could write in a more entertaining manner. What this is not going to be is another blog of what to expect each day on the route, i.e, if you walk from A to B, then you will pass this and see that and so on and so on. One can find other blogs composed in this manner.

So instead I have organised my thoughts into Chapters each encompassing a segment of the journey and containing stories of some of my experiences which really stand out.

Whether it be the food, the company, the wildlife, the farm animals, or the Medieval architecture there are plenty of stories.

There is also the scenery ranging from forests to barren plateaus as well as small villages and towns dotted along the route to the Pyrenees. Except for the other hikers and at times vehicles, there are long silences punctuated by the sounds of either the ringing or tinkling of bells.

There are the rocks (on the trail), the ever present hills and at times extremely warm weather.

Plus there are a steady stream of reminders along the way (signs, crosses, trail markers) as to why this route is also known as the Chemin de Saint Jacques. So there is much to write about and a series of posts will follow.

To be continued – Tales from the Via Podiensis – A) Leaving Le Puy and heading out along the GR 65 https://debverranlivinglifeoutdoors.travel.blog/2019/11/10/tales-from-the-via-podiensis-in-france-a-departing-le-puy/