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This part of the country produces 80% of the world’s linen. The plants bloom a dark blue flower that is just starting to appear This used to be coal country and some of the mining residue is piled in mounds that litter the landscape We’ve been walking along this path covered with white puff ballsContinue reading “June 3 – Amettes to Bruay le Bussiere 23 km”

Week 1 Summary – Observations by Paula Each day is its’ own accomplishment and gift.  Think Hanukkah, not Christmas. It has been a full week on the Via Francigena and the classic question would be: has it been what you would hope for? Who thinks to walk from Canterbury to Rome?   —  So, Yes! AlthoughContinue reading “Therouanne to Amettes – 23 km”

June 1, 2022 Wisques to Therouanne – 16km We started our walk by visiting the Abby of Notre Dame in Wisques, briefly listening to the Kyrie Eleison de Angelis sung by the cloistered nuns of the Benedictine order.   Cloistered nuns isolate from the outside world, apparently only using their voices when they sing, so weContinue reading “Wisques to Therouanne”

May 31, 2022 Tournehem sur la Hem to Visques – 20km We think of ideal hiking adventures as walking in pristine nature. We yearnfor a sense of exploration, discovery, and perhaps even mystical union withmother earth. Remote canyons, virgin forests, ground never touched by humanfootprint. This is not that. Every inch of land is curatedContinue reading “Tournehem sur la Hem – Wisques”

May 30, 2022 Guines to Tournehem sur le Hem – 30.4 km Tranquil day strolling across the French countryside through some downpours under spectacular cloud formations.  By mile 15 we were giddy and then ran into this We were delusionally revived so we ate a basket of freshly picked Strawberries.

May 29         Wissant to Guines – 29 km We left the broad beach of Wissant and the white cliffs of Dover behind to begin the walk across of the French countryside to the Jure and the Alps. The leg to Guines is the 2nd of 47 in France.  We walked against the wind through rainContinue reading “Wissant to Guines”

May 28 Dover to Calais to Wissant Today we had 7 goals: Buy used bicycles because no foot traffic is allowed on the Dover-Calais ferry Engineer structural modifications to the bikes to accommodate luggage, eg eliminate one seat, build wooden platforms, secure with straps and duck tape Make the channel crossing on the ferry asContinue reading “Dover to Calais”

May 27 Because we look like hikers people will ask “Where are you going”.   When we answer “Rome”, the reactions have been consistent: the doubtful “Wow, that is a walk”, the hopeful “Well good luck” or the more absent minded “That’s nice”.  Today we asked an elderly gentleman for directions to the Via Francigena path,Continue reading “Shepherdswell to Dover”

May 24, 2022 After 2 years planning, we are on our way. It is unexpectedly emotional to be addressed as “Pilgrims”. As we approached the counter to buy tickets to enter the Cathedral and to get the first stamp on our Via Francigena passport, the docent asked “Are you walking from Canterbury to Rome?” AtContinue reading “Canterbury”