Yikes! I fell off my roof!

Dear Friends,

On Easter morning, I fell off my roof!  I had been pruning the camellias and was heading back down.  When I stepped on to the ladder, as far as I can figure (since I was unconscious for quite a while) is that the ladder and I took a backwards fall, with me hitting the deck on my back right side and the ladder hitting me in the head).  I am mending steadily and surely.

I am still committed to our journey together.  My only concern is that I have only been able to walk short distances and this is not great preparation for any 24 mile days!  Again, one step at a time....one breath at a time.

I am so looking forward to this time of simply being, being together, walking, walking, walking.

Much love,
Laurie T

Shoes!

Hello everybody!

I've been asking about shoes at outdoor stores in Europe. So far, the info is simple: synthetic shoes are both lighter and cooler, but if you're looking for good ankle support, a leather shoe is best. One guy I spoke to in Germany about the Il Camino said there'll be a lot of rocky terrain and leather's best.
I'm still undecided...

Love
Margot

Hello dear women,

I love to read and I propose that we all take different books with us, than we can share and exchange and we have than several books at our disposition to read....

Love you all

Veerle

Hello walkers!

I just finished reading the latest posts and updates on 'Who We Are' and I started feeling really excited!!!

I hope the visa thing for Margot works out. She is such a bright light and walking with her will be delightful. Also to let you know- Ann Hoye cannot join us this summer due to family concerns. She will be missed.

I am in Florida teaching right now- Laurie Thorp is strongly considering doing the whole month with us. I will let you know in the next few days for sure.
And many thanks to Joost for driving for us. Love, Laurie

Margot's visa

Hello everyone!
This is my first post!  I planned to start walking the day I got back to Cape Town but have had a heavy flu making it's way through me.

I'll still do my 'profile' but wanted to let you know what's happening: I started checking into the visa requirements and realise I'll need to do research soon. Basically, my Schengen visa (which covers Austria, Spain, France etc) allows me 90 days over the 1-year duration of my visa. So I need to check all my dates carefully as I don't want to jeopardise my visa for school in any way.
Will keep you posted...

Love
Margot

My husband Joost

Dear friends,




my husband Joost will accompany us with his car the first 2 weeks of our journey on the camino. He offered to take our backpacks and be available
to drive someone if necessary. This will enable me to choose for another option during our walk, which is not to make it to hard for myself.
I am very grateful for his generous offer. I hope he will soon present himself in the section: Who are we?

Veerle

Veerle and I met tonight. We sat at the computer, searching where we might sleep each night of the walk. We did book the last night of the trip in Santiago de Compostella in a very nice hotel with a pool!

We realized that the way the itinerary is laid out we need to meet in St. Jean Pied de Port on Friday, June 24th. We need to begin walking on Saturday June 25th in order to complete on Sunday July 24th.

 Laurie

Update

A few things- Muriel is not going to walk with us this summer. She is following the pull to stay rooted where she lives.

Irene, Veerle and I are each going to research travel agents and connect on Saturday January 29th. Hopefully by then one of us will have found an agency to do the booking for us.

Pilgrim Passports. You need one to stay in one of the pilgrim hostels or to receive a compostela/certificate of completion at the end of the walk. It is written that you can get them in St, Jean Pied de Port. However, given that we are starting on a Sunday, I am not sure if they will be available or how long the lines will be, etc... . I have decided to get mine before I leave so that I have everything in order. To do that you need to google Confraternity of St. James in your country. After you have joined (it's $50 in the US) you can request a passport free of charge. You may want to look into it. One good site to read about the pilgrims passport (also called a credencial) is:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James.

I also highly recommend you google El Camino de Santiago. There is so much information out there. Just for the record, we will be walking what is known as the 'French Route or the French Way'.
Laurie

Working out the itinerary and who might be walking and when

Hi Everyone, 


Veerle and I spent the afternoon (Sunday, January 23rd) mapping out the itinerary. She will probably be posting it soon. I have sent Irene an email with the info. below. We are hoping that since she lives in Spain she might be willing to find a travel agency to book the rooms. This is what I wrote:

"Ideally we want to reserve four double rooms with private baths for each night. We feel sure we need 3 rooms per night. However, if we can book an extra room at this time and cancel if we don't get 8 people- that would be ideal. 

What sort of deposit is required to hold the rooms? 

If you are willing to make the arrangements, Veerle and I will forward Euros to you in class 4 (cash) via Muriel to book our portion of them. We will try to get everyone else to also pay at that time. 

At this point these are the ones who have expressed a strong interest in going:

The entire walk-definitely- Veerle, myself, a friend of hers

Margot is planning to do the entire walk but is opting to stay at pilgrim hostels.

The first 3 weeks-You, Muriel

The first 2 weeks- Anne Hoye

The last week- Veerle's daughter, Sherry

And there may be more..."

Laurie

Suggestion

We could consider asking a travel agency for help to schedule our hotels or B&B's during our walk.
The amount of kilometers we will be doing in one day will depend on the availability of logies. Veerle

An Invitation

Friends, Family, All,


The idea of taking a nice long walk began a year ago and will be realized this summer. We will walk the El Camino. It is a pilgrimage from France to Spain and thousands of people walk it every year. We are dedicating the walk to Gaia, our beautiful planet. 


We will meet in St. Jean Pied de Port, France on June 25th and begin walking on the 26th. Our plan is to complete the 796km/494 mile trek on July 25th in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  


Our next order of business is to know who is actually going for the full month and who is willing to take on the task of reserving the B&B rooms.
I am looking forward to walking with you, Laurie

Laurie