emeritablog

ST JULIEN TO NEUILLY

Another walk along the right bank, plenty of shade, a few cyclists and fishers. I had a good chat with a 92-year-old about the beauty of nature and the importance of doing what you can while you can. At the first stop, I rang a pilgrim host in Ste Pallaye, and booked the last restingContinue reading “ST JULIEN TO NEUILLY”

SENS TO ST JULIEN DU SAULT

What with the heat and blisters, I decided to walk along the river Yonne from Sens to Étigney, 12 km, and then take a train to St Julien. It was a lovely walk, completed in 3 hours, but I then waited another 3 hours for a train that stopped in Étigney. I wondered about gettingContinue reading “SENS TO ST JULIEN DU SAULT”

CHAMPIGNY TO SENS

Awake at 6, and heard that others were getting up, so I did the same and started walking just before 8, before it was too hot, I split Morning Prayer, saying up to the end of the psalm in the 11 November 1918 Park at Pont sur Yonne, and the Bible readings etc. at Villeperrot,Continue reading “CHAMPIGNY TO SENS”

FLAGY TO CHAMPIGNY

I am used to the idea of continental breakfasts, and even drinking tea or coffee out of a bowl, but I think this was my first experience of dunking: spreading butter and jam on a slice of bread, or in this case toast,and then dipping it I one’s drink of choice. I found this soContinue reading “FLAGY TO CHAMPIGNY”

AVON TO FLAGY

Finished packing in time to take a couple of photos before Morning Prayer. One of the monks stamped my credential and took the money, so I could leave straight after breakfast. Lillian gave me a prayer card from Lisieux, and Frédéric hugged me. I started off, singing hymns. The first couple of hours were inContinue reading “AVON TO FLAGY”

SPP TO AVON

Breakfasted on bread, jam and orange juice, plus the remains of last night’s small bottle of wine. Ready to leave at 8 30, but couldn’t find the key to the gate. So I rang Gerard, who told me there wasn’t one, you just have to push. I found the instructions and waymarks difficult to follow,Continue reading “SPP TO AVON”

MONTGERON TO SAINT PARGEAU PONTTHIERRY

After writing the blog, left at 9. It was 2.4 km to the Mairie, where I turned off the route to find the hotel. I missed the turning after St Jacques Church, which was closed, but met a woman who knew the area and told me to turn right after the street market. I didContinue reading “MONTGERON TO SAINT PARGEAU PONTTHIERRY”

PARIS TO MONTGERON

The 9:31 Eurostar was a good idea, and enabled a full day’s walking after arrival in Paris. First stop Notre Dame, or rather, the Diocesan offices nearby, to get my credential stamp. They first said no, the proper stamp had been lost, but when I persisted, they produced some others before settling on one normallyContinue reading “PARIS TO MONTGERON”

PILGRIMAGE 2023

Just over 20 years ago, I arrived in Le Puy en Vélay to walk the first part of the Via Podensis, the best-known of the medieval pilgrimage routes through France to Santiago de Compostela. It took me nearly four years, and four further visits to the Camino ranging from 3 days of walking to 3Continue reading “PILGRIMAGE 2023”

OLORON TO SARRANCE

One more stage of the Voie d’Arles I can do with public transport from Pau. This time I used the train. A few problems: 1. You can’t buy tickets with bank notes. Eventually one of the staff, whizzing round not sitting in a ticket/info office, was persuaded to give me 5 2-euro coins for aContinue reading “OLORON TO SARRANCE”