Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury Passport/Credential

Ready for walking some of the Pilgrims' way to Canterbury I've designed a Pilgrim's passport for me and Dad - there's no where official to get a stamp but there are Youth Hostels in Dorking (Tanners Hatch off Ranmore Road in Surrey, 1km off the route) and Canterbury (54 Dover Road) as well as several in London. In addition most post offices have their own stamps (they are rather plain but they were always willing to stamp the passports me and Dad made and used on the Coast to Coast walk) and you may find other places as well with a stamp or who will be willing to write the name of their shop/pub/hotel/restaurant etc and date your passport.

The pictures below show how I put the passport together (this is a rough version that I made to see how well it worked hence the pencil lines on it).

The box of the second from the right page is ready for the Cathedral stamp in Canterbury - as the starting point for the Pilgrimage for Rome they are used to stamping passports for Pilgrims and so, I hope, will be happy to stamp this passport as well - I'll find out in the summer (this stamp is held in the Information Centre within the Cathedral's precincts). The scallop shell is really a symbol for the Pilgrimage to Santiago but is fairly universally recognised for all Pilgrims.

I hope this is enough space for stamps!

I've included JPGs of these in case anyone else is interested in them - if you put these into word and then make them the size of the full page then it should work - I've never tried anything like this before so if there's a problem let me know and I'll try again!

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Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Pilgrim Prayer - Columba

Columba was an Irish monk (who founded several monasteries in Ireland) who sailed with 12 others to the island of Iona just off the west coast of Scotland. The Abbey he funded became one of the powerhouses of Mediaeval Christendom. He lived from 7th December 521 until 9th June 597. Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand Than if a host did round me stand. Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today, tonight and forever.

On the Camino

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