Author Archives: Edward and Paula

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!Continue reading “The sequin to sackcloth tour moves into week 4!”

We were sorry to leave Laon, a village with a good sense of its identity.  Not much on the way to Corbeny other than a long, straight, shaded path called Chemin des Dames, named that because Louis XV’s daughters walked it.  In Corbeny we met another Francigena pilgrim, this time a German who lives inContinue reading “Laon to Corbeny – 28km”

Laon is a well-preserved medieval hilltop town with a spectacular gothic Cathedral, one of the first built in France.  The walk up 450 stairs from the plain below is well worth it. We stop here for 2 nights for provisioning, laundry, and rest.  The Cathedral is well reviewed but what impressed us most is theContinue reading “Tergnier to Laon – 38km”

The flat path along the St Quintin canal cuts through fields of wheat, corn and beetroot, through small villages, each with a Church across from the Town Hall and a war memorial to the side. Some have benches under an old oak where we eat mid morning snack, lunch or a mid afternoon pick-me-up asContinue reading “St Quintin to Tergnier – 28km”

Weekly summary from the sequin to sackcloth tour Yesterday was the completion of week two and I am happy to report the state of the team is – Strong! However, there have been days when we were destroyed and broken. Now an update on our accommodations which have been varied. We have stayed in fourContinue reading “Trefcon to St Quintin – 15 km”

Beautiful day for the decent into the Somme valley. We left Peronne after visiting the Monument aux Morts. Shaped like a cannon, a woman’s outstretched arm and clenched fist for a barrel, as she leans over the dead body of a son or husband.. A modern Pieta, her face defiant, angry and bereft rather thanContinue reading “Peronne to Trefcon – 17 km”

Heavy rain most of the day.  The steel grey low sky cast a somber pall over the  Commonwealth Cemeteries that flank the Via Franchigena.  The fallen lie here on land donated by France to create the illusion of home, carefully looked after, to memorialize their sacrifice during WW1.   It is a moving tribute, simple inContinue reading “Bapaume to Peronne – 31 km”

Mostly through rain, wind and often muddy paths. We ate young peas, and rubbed lavander between our palms as we walked along while keeping track of the shifting clouds as they floated across the horizon. We passed through several large cattle farms where we were overwhelmed by the smell of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide andContinue reading “Arras to Bapaume – 27km”

Jun 6, 2022 (40th Anniversary) And now out to dinner to celebrate our vary happy 40 years.

June 4-5, 2022 We walked through sunshine and pouring rain. On the way out of Bruay le B. a car stopped to ask if we were lost. “We are on the Via Franchigena to Rome”, I said. “Eh bien, continuez tout droit et prenez la troisieme a droit au round-point.” So we got lost, ItContinue reading “Bruay le Bussiere to Arras – 34 km”