On the Camino

Canterbury Cathedral is hosting a conference on the Pilgrims' Way with a weekend of events linking the Pilgrims' Way Project and The Green Pilgrimage network (a global collaboration between 28 pilgrim cities and other sacred sites who want to be models of green action and care. It was launched in Assisi in 2011). On the 5th people will gather at meeting places a mile or a couple of miles outside the city to walk in with the Archbishop. The weekend will also see the official launch of the Pilgrims' Way website at www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.co.uk .

On the outskirts of Hospital de Orbigo is the bridge from the 13th century which has 204 arches and at 204 meters it is the longest bridge on the Camino. This bridge comes with its own Camino story: in 1433 Don Suero, a Knight from Leon, loved a Lady who did not return his affection – to free himself from this love he, and nine other Knights (Don Sancho Rabanal, Don Diego de Bazán, Don Suero Gómez, Don Suero de Quiñones, Don Pedro de los Ríos, Don Lope de Estúñiga, Don Pedro de Nava, Don Gómez de Villacorta, Don Diego de Benavides, Don Lope de Aller) embarked on a joust to break 300 lances on the bridge over the rio Orbigo. Knights from all over Europe came and the tournament lasted a month (from 10 th July) during which 200 lances were broken and 68 men defeated (with only one being killed). Having decided that he was now free of his love Don Suero and his friends went to Santiago to give thanks to Saint James.  ...

Ahead of their meeting tomorrow to discuss the development of the economic situation in Europe and the state of negotiations for the European Commission German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will be walking 5km (3 miles) of the Camino diminishing at the Cathedral. Merkel is said to be a hiker and spends many of her holidays in the Swiss Alps doing just that  and in 2013 spent time hiking in the Italian section of the mountain range whilst Rajoy, who was born in Santiago and is interrupting his summer holidays for their meeting, enjoys jogging. For this short stroll I hope that they aren't taking the Frances route in - this part has to be one of the uglyist of that route. The Finisterre route may be a better option. At least they should have nice weather for their walk!

After walking the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury I walked the twenty miles to Dover, the start of the via frangenia to Rome and collecyed three stamps (or timbros). The first timbros if from Canterbury Cathedral where I received my passport. The second is from just on the outskirts of the city center at St Augustine's Abbey which is in the care of English Heritage.  The man on the reception desk had never stamped a passport before but was more than happy to do so. My fibal stamp comes from Dover tourist information centre and causd some confusion - I'd seen a picture on the internet of it on someone else's passport but the staff there didn't know anything about it at first,  then couldn't find it and then didn't know how to use it! Hopefully I'll be getting more timbros soon!

On my first Camino I started from St Jean, got to Logrono and then took a bus to Leon as I had very tight time constraints on when I had to arrive in Santiago. Last year me and Becky cut out 30km or so before Burgos partially because we were worried about time (which we needn't have been seeing as we had 5 days to n Santiago) and partially because we had heard that this section wasn't very nice. We wondered as we waited for the bus if we would later regret this decision but don't - the day we arrived in Santiago we met a guy we remain friends with who introduced us to the group of people who became our 'Camino family' who we would have had no chance of meeting if we had walked that 30km. One of these guys was in Santiago this year when we arrived and we were able to see him for an hour. He told us about the special certificate produced this year to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis' pilgrimage to Santiago; without seeing him again we wouldn...

To go with the passport for the Pilgrims' Way I've been working on a certificate as well. There's space for your name, end date, how far you have walked and space for the Cathedral stamp if you should wish. This one matches the Pilgrim Passport that you'll also find on my blog. The sword and mitre are symbols of Thomas Becket

We arrived in Canterbury this morning in time for the 11 Eucharist after which we were met by Canon Clare for a special blessing - I'd asked the visits office by email before we set off as to whether Pilgrims needed to pay to enter the Cathedral and was told that they did not and was asked if we'd like a blessing on our arrival. From the Canon we also received our via Francigena credential and were pointed to this Way's starting point just outside the Cathedral so tomorrow we're setting off for Rome ..... or rather we'll walk the 20ish miles from Canterbury to Dover on the way to Rome, that Pilgrimage (of about 1200 miles) will have to wait for another time!

About 21miles left to Canterbury - hopefully will arrive on Sunday and then will set off on the 20miles to Dover on the via francigena on Monday or Tuesday

I haven't been able to find many stamps to put on ny Pilgrim passport but here are the ones I've collected so far:

I haven't been able to find many stamps to put on ny Pilgrim passport but here are the ones I've collected so far:

We'll be starting off on the Pilgrims' Way from Winchester and will be following Saint Swithun's Way. Saint Swithun was born around the year 800. After he was ordained he served in the royal household becoming an important advisor to the King. He became the 17th Bishop at Winchester Cathedral in 852 until he died in 862 after which he was associated with many miracles which saw him declared a Saint. This has led to his shrine in Winchester becoming a site for pilgrimage. While he was Bishop he rebuilt Winchester’s East Gate bridge over the River Itchen and whilst he was visiting workmen for this legend says he found a poor woman who had dropped a basket of eggs which had broken – he mended the eggs and for this miracle he became famous. Tradition also has it that he took a young Alfred on pilgrimage to Rome. Upon his death he was buried in a simple grave by the west door of the Saxon Cathedral (which is near to the north of the present Norman Cathedral). When...