My walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
January 21, 2021 7:47am CST
This series of discussions was inspired by a discussion started by @much2say aspiring at another way of life. With the covid around the urban life is no more what it used to be and many people want to move to the country.
Hiking is my way to go closer to the nature. My biggest project is a walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, which was the third Christian pilgrimage after Rome and Jerusalem, taking the same main routes than the pilgrims were taking during the Middle-Age.
The main way crossing France was the via Podiensis, going from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It is a 732 km long hiking trail, the GR65, and it is recommended to do them in 32 days. In May-June 2014 I did these 732 kms in 21 days, an average 35 kms/day. To do that I traveled very light. I had a small tent, no sleeping bag but a few life blankets, only one pair of shoes, 2 shorts, 2 t-shirts, 3 pair of socks and underwears. My camera was a brand new Panasonic Lumix SZ8, chosen because it was lightweight and had a good 12x optical zoom and wifi to transfer pictures to my phone. I had two 10000mAh solar power banks fixed on the backpack to provide electricity to the phone and the camera.
The route in the country was wonderful and following it was a personal fulfilment. I took more than 800 pictures, I can post only a few in these discussions, sorry.
Pictures : top left, the medieval routes to Santiago de Compostela in Europe ; top right, the Via Podensis, the route that I followed
bottom left, Le Puy-en-Velay seen from the path ; bottom right, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
14 people like this
14 responses
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
21 Jan 21
Great effort to track 750 Kms long route. Is it in a group? Although can not be compared in any way, I tracked to Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh of India a distance of about 45 Kms from Tirumalai town at the foot of the hillock where this famous temple is located. It took 2 of us about 7 hours from 4 in the evening to 11 at night to reach the temple. The track is specially developed by temple authorities and many people use it as pilgrimage track.
5 people like this
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
21 Jan 21
@Fleura The incident was way back in 1995. No photos or anything but Tirupati temple I have spoken about is one of the most important temples in India. The devotees visit the place in thousands every day. There is sufficient lodging facility available near the temple managed by temple organisation and given at subsidized rates but we had already checked in the hotel in town below as we did not know much about the place. There is transport facility in the area whole night.
4 people like this
@marguicha (223850)
• Chile
21 Jan 21
My sister did it, starting from some part of Spain, some years ago. She got a card of plenary indulgence from having fulfilled that trip.
5 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47693)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Jan 21
I probably could have done it when I was younger but not these days.
4 people like this
@much2say (56142)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 21
That is quite a walking trek along a historic path! Was this solo? Fulfilment indeed - not just about the goal, but the journey. I have never even taken a full vacation on that many days - I can only imagine such a hike. You must have been pretty fit! I know I would take too many stops to take a zillion photos.
Thank you for the mention 
.2 people like this
@much2say (56142)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Jan 21
@topffer 
We rarely took a whole week off .. . we had extended weekends at best, just our choice. We got paid for the vacation time even if we did not take it, but in hindsight we really should have taken the time to go see the world in our younger days.
Seeing the French countryside must've been wonderful - and you see so much more walking !
We rarely took a whole week off .. . we had extended weekends at best, just our choice. We got paid for the vacation time even if we did not take it, but in hindsight we really should have taken the time to go see the world in our younger days.
Seeing the French countryside must've been wonderful - and you see so much more walking !1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
26 Jan 21
@much2say French have not the same relationship with vacations than Americans. People fought here to have paid vacations and they take them. I have had work contracts telling that I would not take vacations but that my days of vacations would be paid with a 10% bonus. The bonus can be negociated. This is only possible for short temporary contracts (6 months max), for other contracts you cannot contractually not take your vacations in France.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Jan 21
I am the one needing to thank the other, it is your discussion that gave me the idea to speak about this trip across the deep country.
I have 6 weeks of paid vacations. Usually people are taking a month in summer (they sometimes have no choice, because their business is closing in July or August), but as we have volunteers in summer, people with no children like me are asked to not take their holidays in summer. That's all good for me. I usually take 1 week here and there, but in 2014 I took a full month from mid-May to mid-June to do this journey. I did not took a zillion photos, but it will give you an idea of the French country.
. I did not took a zillion photos, but it will give you an idea of the French country.3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181931)
• United States
21 Jan 21
Good for you! Great pictures. That was quite an accomplishment. Post more pictures, please! It's always good to see you here!
3 people like this
@allknowing (137908)
• India
21 Jan 21
What a feat that is. I just take strolls in my garden with my cat for company. She likes to walk with me. .
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137908)
• India
22 Jan 21
@topffer This is pretty complicated. You say you have a cat that does not live with you. You need to explain
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
22 Jan 21
@allknowing We share the same house, but not at the same hours
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@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
22 Jan 21
do you not get blisters in your feet from all that walking and only one pair of shoes?
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137696)
• United States
23 Jan 21
Pretty and I used to hike every chance we got... After a minor heart attack 5 years ago I get tired very quickly. (Pretty had to go to the dentist this past December. The closest we could park to the dentist's office was 3/4 of a mile (just over a km). Halfway to the dentist's office I had to tell Pretty to slow down or I wouldn't be able to complete the walk. Returning to our car was uphill. I had to stop and sit for 15 minutes halfway there.
)
I walk 7 miles a day (11 km) but not all at once at work. *shake my head* I'm getting old. *sigh*
)
I walk 7 miles a day (11 km) but not all at once at work. *shake my head* I'm getting old. *sigh*
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
23 Jan 21
'tis wonderful y'ave that time to reflect 'pon 'n so many pics to help relive such a journey. i 'dmire ya, would'a taken me much longer, e'en when 'twas'n better health. so much new to see 'n 'xplore 'long the way.
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Jan 21
Not very fast but I could walk 8 to 10 hours without having heavy legs like today.
Yes there are a lot of hostels for pilgrims, very cheap, between 10 to 20 euros/night. I stopped in them when it was raining. I may have a few photos, I will look. Do a piece of the route if you can, you will have great holidays.
2 people like this
