Routine is important for babies and anyone walking from Canterbury to Rome. Now, more than three weeks in, we have a well-established daily routine at least as we set out each morning.
We wake up early, which is a direct correlation to the fact that we go to bed early, think sun is still up! Like good laborers we shower at the end of the day and rinse out clothing we feel will be dry in the morning. This nightly routine allows maximum time in the morning for applying many ointments and support materials. Sunscreen is extremely important as I try not to resemble Magda in Something About Mary, my walking stick hand already has a mahogany patina. As we move south, we have started to encounter very warm weather.
Now it is time to wrap my feet, all in the hope of avoiding the inevitable blister. Edward’s feet look like hands, hands that play piano, mine look like they have gone a couple of rounds with Sonny Liston. But I digress. Now the feet are ready for the day. Wardrobe selection is easy, the selection is limited to 3 pants and 3 shirts. Backpacks are loaded with water, rain gear and lunch – we check the maps, the GPS and our intuition and off we go.
The first 30 minutes is a mental and physical conversation or negotiation. The brain starts asking questions: whose idea was this, and offering options, let’s go shopping there were some cute frogs with umbrellas in that shop window. Then the endorphins swoop in, to the soundtrack of Flight of the Valkyrie and suddenly it all feels SO Good!!
By the end of the day, and we usually walk 7 hours, it feels like I have watched the day go by like scenes from a train window. So much to process. While most of the photographs we share are beautiful horizons, the Via Francigena takes us through varied neighborhoods. Suburban homes with carefully manicured lawns full of garden statuary and others in decline with boarded windows and vacant lots. We hear barking dogs, tractors clacking, babies crying and silence.
During the last hour our gait resembles a toddler learning to walk, we find our lodging for the night, have our pilgrim passport stamped, settle in so grateful for the opportunity to spend our day walking.
Walking the Via Francigena 
How are your dinners and the local wines?
LikeLike
I’m not sure why it posted Anonymous—it’s me, Martha. I’m curious if all your dinners taste great. Seven hours of walking the best spice? Are you now enjoying some well-deserved bubbly?
LikeLike
Martha, you can change your name in your profile – click the round coin head in the upper right hand corner of the screen. (I’m using my WordPress account)
LikeLike
Edward and Paula – I love this blog, and eagerly devour every post. It’s absolutely wonderful- the goal you set, the journey itself, your photographs and commentary. I feel I’m walking with you in spirit, and so admire you for it. Thank you for sharing the journey, including the stinky feet and routine bit!
LikeLike
Thrilled you are with us!
LikeLike
We have made reading your posts part of our morning coffee routine. I get the posts in my email during the day, then wait until Jean and I are lounging in the morning, hot brew in hand, ready to devour the next installment.
LikeLike
Happy for the virtual company.
LikeLike
I was going to ask what you do all day apart from the walking.? Do you talk a lot, walk in silence,contemplate life,solve problems,catch up on books and music via podcasts and downloads. Are you keeping up with world news.Grimmer by the day. Or is it better to let your minds soar above the mundane and focus on the miracle of life and the philosophical conundrums.?
LikeLike
Hi Ian – there are soaring moments and plenty of contemplation about the unanswerables. Mostly though we focus on one foot in front of the other, staying on the path, which is often unmarked, and grinding through the next mile and the mile after that. We talk quite a bit and started listening to books and music through our iPods (we each take one so we listen to the same things) but, while it helps pass the time I haven’t decided if I want the distraction.
LikeLike