Day 3: May 21: Moutier to Pontarlier

Today is Pierre,s last day with me, as he must return to work, so I begin to have fear of my speaking abilities and also how I will arrange accomodation, as Pierre,s phone has come in handy to secure this. I have no phone with me and we have seen no internet cafes and no places have provided this.. It is another long day, but the beginning of the journey is amazing as we follow the Rive Doubs to its source - it is a tough walk, but one full of beauty and surprise. Once out of the gourge, we travel ot Pntalier, and I barely make it - exhausted physically and mentally as I know I know proceed alone. >The voices inside are strong and severe, telling me to get on the train with Pierre and return to Paris. It is amusing what I can tell myself. At moments I catch a breath and the voices stop and I am present in the moment, but today we move fast to catch Pierre,s train and this is unwise for the beginning as My body is not strong enough and the worst thing one can do is injusre oneself early. But as is said, THE WAY ALWAYS PROVIDES. As I leave Pierre in the train station, I find a room in a local hostile, my roommate is another pilgrim, but on the way to Santiago  and he inadvertently reminds me that the pilgrimage is about being present, about relaxing into what is happening and about trust, He does not know this, but Fritz has given me courage when I really need it. Buen Camino Fritz!

DAY 2: MAY 20: Etalons to Moutier Haute >Pierre

We decide to try and make a shorter day today, but this does not happen and so my body is weak and sore and we have another long day.We start the day late as we wait for the prepared breakfast at 8 - I think this our first mistake, is better to begin the walk as early as possible. My guide book sends us in several wrong directions with one time us searching in field of tall wet grass for an unseen pass into trees, frustrated and wet, my mind works ovetime plotting a way to get home....so starts the pilgrimmage . the shedding of old and perhaps the preparation for new and better thoughts...I hope. We end the day with some lucky and most beautiful shortcuts into Moutier with an amazing evening meal in the center of town. Ca c,est bien!

DAY 1: MAY 19: Besancon - Etalons France

It is along day, but within the first mile, I get choked up, excited to be back on a pilgrimmage. >The gifts I received from the Camino Santiago were so great, that there is a feeling in me of coming home, as we start this adventure. >The day is beautiful, but long with nearly 20 miles of walking, so though I begin the day happy and full of heart, my body and my mind begin to doubt itself on the journey and start to whine inside to go home. I know this will pass, but it is a long day with no energie left as we end the day. We get our first gift as we have no place to stay in the village, but just as we arrive a lady calls us offering a room in a new small massage center.

DAY ZERO: A Wonderful Start

SUNDAY MAY 18; Paris to Besancon  (ba-sa-son) by train.

We arrive at friends of Pierres who host us for the day and night. A young couple, Yvonne and Sara, both doctors with their young son Samuel. I have never met an American Doctor who prepares me a meal so fine and is so kind. We celebrate the beginning of my pilgrimmage and the ending of Yvonne,s residency - two weeks passe. Yvonne is also a member of the ManKind Project - something I hold dear to my heart. Merci Beaucoup mes nouveax amis!

Also check out the site www.couchsurfer.com this family is one of the members -- an interesting idea.

MAY 17: Paris France:

Beautiful day - staying 2 blocks from the Moulon Rouge with an old friend, Pierre, who is walking with me the first few days.

I think it was Einstein who said, there are two ways of looking at life - either everything is a mystery or nothing is. On the flight last night, I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - a story about a man seeking adventure and then stepping outside his world. Shirley Maclaine was in the movie and it was her book CAMINO, that led me to want to do my first pilgrimage in Spain five years ago.

So taking a page, from Einstein, I am choosing to see this as a blessing or good omen for my trip.

Buen Camino!

Following is a look at where I am going and the times I will be at some places/ regions. My European friends, please come find me. Email/ Facebook me/ etc; if you know when you might be free and see below for closer to where I will be.

DATE	# Days	FROM	TO	MILES
19-May	6.4 days	Besancon	Lausanne	107.0
The eighth section of the Via Francigena goes from Besancon to Lausanne, spanning two countries, France and Switzerland. The route you will follow between those two large towns is more challenging than every previous section, as you will cross the Jura and a part of the Alps Mountains, and also because of its large length. However, the difficult spots will be concentrated on stretching climbs, and the route is not too hard to follow. The hardest parts are in the next sections. Here, between France and Switzerland, you will enjoy an undulating and green landscape, which will offer you outstanding sceneries until you reach Lausanne, the capital of the French-speaking Switzerland. Highlights of this trip are the 18th-century monuments of Pontarlier, the Temple and the Castle in Yverdon-les-Bain, and the beautiful views of the Swiss Alps until you reach the spectacular natural and architectural beauty of Lausanne, and notably the old Cathedral Notre-Dame.
25-May	5.9 days	Lausanne	Aosta	98.2
The ninth section of the Via Francigena goes from Lausanne to Aosta, spanning two countries, Switzerland and France. In this section across the Switzerland, you will first circle the Lake Geneva until reaching Villeneuve, and then heading south towards Aosta. As long as you are walking along the Lake Geneva, the landscape is quite flat, just scattered with some steep climbs. After several flat kilometres through the Rhone Valley, you will start to steadily climb until Bourg Saint Pierre, with some steeper sections. Tremendous Alp sceneries will surround you during this section, and the highlights of this trip are of course the beautiful city of Lausanne and its overviewing cathedral, the Lake Geneva, the Chateau de Chillon in Montreux, the historic village of Bourg-St Pierre and the tremendous green Aosta Valley in Italy, surrounding by the Alps, offering you outstanding sceneries.
31-May	5.1 days	Aosta	Vercelli	85.1
The tenth section of the Via Francigena will lead you along the Aosta Valley and its medieval castles from Aosta to Vercelli. Mainbly on rolling trails, this section will pass through the fertile valleys of Lombardy and Piedmont, and by the lake of Viverone and the sancutary of Madonna della Bozzola at Garlasco.
5-Jun	5.2 days	Vercelli	Piacenza	87.0
Starting in Vercelli and finishing in the city of Piacenza, along part of the River Po, in a very rich region of northern Italy. You will cross pass many historic monuments, and buildings, such as abbeys, monasteries, churches as you make your way from Lombardy into Emilia-Romagna. The walking on this section is on relatively flat trails and along river valleys. The towns you will pass through are full of fabulous artistic, historical and cultural sights. In Piacenza, your arrival, you will find a great number of historical palaces, often surrounded by fantastic gardens, as the Palazzo Comunale (Il Gotico) or the Palazzo Farnese.
10-Jun	6.4 days	Piacenza	Aulla	105.6
Starting in Piacenza and finishing in the city of Aulla, along part of the River Po, in a very rich region of northern Italy. You will cross pass many historic monuments, and buildings, such as abbeys, monasteries, churches as you make your way in Emilia-Romagna. The walking on this section is on relatively flat trails and along river valleys. The towns you will pass through are full of fabulous artistic, historical and cultural sights. It is also an area of great gastronomy, Parma, close to your way, being world famous for its cured ham and parmesan cheese. On the second part of the section, you will cross the Apennine Mountains from Emilia-Romagna into Tuscany and on towards the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You will pass through beautiful woodlands and along pristine streams, with many wonderful old abbeys, churches and bridges along the way, until you final stage in Aulla.
17-Jun	3.2 days	Aulla	Lucca	52.8
This section starts in Aulla, South of the Apennine Mountains, and finishes in Lucca, with superb historical Citadel. Although the terrain is hilly and rugged, you will be able to take a rest in the sleepy villages along the way. There is a sharp climb out of Aulla on the first day before you drop down towards sea level. The rest of the journey will see you travel south between the mountains and the sea. You will pass the world famous white marbles quarries of the Carrara area and through beautiful little towns and villages with cobbled streets and relaxing cafes.
20-Jun	4.3 days	Lucca	Sienna	71.5
This section starts in Lucca and its amazing Citadel, and finishes in the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre of Siena, using beautiful rolling agricultural land and woods of Tuscany. Although the terrain is hilly and rugged, you will be able to take a rest in the sleepy villages along the way. There are many wonderful sights on this section of the Via Francigena including the wonderful hilltop town of Monteriggioni, and 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the breathtaking town of San Gimignano with its impressive towers and the fantastic city of Siena, which is an historical, artistic, cultural and gastronomic gem.
24-Jun	6.3 days	Sienna	Viterbo	103.8
No notes provided for this region, so I guess a surprise awaits!
30-Jun	3.8 days	Viterbo	Rome	62.8
The last section of the Classic “Via Francigena” starts in medieval Viterbo and makes through Lazio to finish in Rome, 100km later. The historic centre of Viterbo is a maze of cobble streets, markets, and historic sites. The walking holiday follows a string of Roman roads, footpaths, forest trails and dirt track across a very scenic, hilly and verdant countryside. The small towns and villages en-route are pleasant and authentic, and lively. Street markets are set few times a week, for the pleasure of your senses. The level of comfort is high, and we are using a mix of 3* hotels in the larger towns and in the smaller village we use “Agriturismos” (high standard country-side hotels / farm-houses). In Rome we have selected for you, the most special place; 17th C. Monastery, 500m from St Peter, with a garden terrace with views across the capital for the perfect relax evening. We also transfer your luggage, from inn to inn, on a daily basis from, so you just trek with a light 4-5kg backpack. The food is also a definite highlight of the way (vegetarian or not), and more than enough to make you want to comeback. The last walking day, see you arriving to the Vatican, from the famous “Via Triumphale”, with sweeping views of the Capital from one of the highest hills. Rome is one of the most impressive cities in the world, jammed with history, art, fantastic food and culture, so why don’t you ask us for extra nights.
4-Jul	46.6	Rome		773.8

The Journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step....Guess it'll be the same for only 800...

Five years ago I had one of the best adventures of my life - literally walking across the entire country of Spain on the CAMINO SANTIAGO - an ancient pilgrimage that some believed followed the Milky Way to the end of the world (Finistere).

In just under a week, I begin a new adventure on another pilgrimage, the VIA FRANCIGENA - a 1200 mile walk from London to Rome. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time for this, so I am walking the second half - 770 miles from Besancon France - thru the Swiss Alps and onto Rome.

Why am I doing this? I think life calls us to adventure, but this call is drowned out by our responsibilities and modern convenience. To the degree that we now watch others (TV, YouTube, Facebook) instead of having our own adventures. And I think this comes at a price.

I begin this Monday, May 19 and plan to walk into Rome on July 4. I do not know how often, I will have internet access, but plan to document my journey here on this blog as I am able.

So join me if you like, but maybe more importantly find a way to STEP OUTSIDE YOUR LIFE.

Buen Camino!