Day 7: Sun May 25 - Gouman les Joux - Lausanne (26km - 16 miles - 106 total miles)

After a wonderful evening Sandy dropped me off for my day,s walk. Since I return to Sandy,y home this evening, I take just a few things in a much lighter pack, which one would think would be a good thing. But I find myself through out the day uncomfortable with a different load and missing something. Perhaps like life any change is hard, even when it lightens our load, we still resist.

Mostly easy pathways with well marked trails. Ending up at the cathedral of lausanne. Still no pilgrims on the way and I am not finding the internal quiet and meditation that i found so wonderful on the camino santiago. But today I walked in view of the alps all day - knowing that this time next week I have my most pressing physical challenge - croosing St bernard Pass, which evidently only opened this or last week.

The last few miles into lausanne were unpleasant as are most walking trips into larger cities.  But the cathedral was worth it!

The day ended with a lovely and playful dinner with sandy and her delightful children; Robin and Lucy, the Giraffe. I m so happy to have reconnected with her and met her family. Thank you so much for the kindness and laughs. NEXT TIME WE JUGGLE!!!!

Day 6, Sat May 24. Yverdon - Orbes (17 km- 10 miles - 89 total miles)

It was a beautiful day and I woke up late as I am going far less than usual. I am also excited to see a friend from Freshman Year, Sandra Genolet, who is Swiss,  which I find strange I never knew. Anyway we hung out a bit freshman year, went on some outings and lost touch. Serendipitously we reconnected last year, when another Syracuse buddy, Jennifer Giffune, posted a flashback picture of her and Sandy - they were roomates, small world and wonderful conincidence for this journey.

The day starts out with an awesome farmers market in the city center, I buy some bread and fruit and am amazed at how many stores are open at 8, and how many people are getting their hair cut before I leave....

A wonderful walk through forests and valleys where i now get lost about five times, weirdly I seem to be ok with being lost...not something i expect. I wonder if this lasts.

An interesting stop at ancient roman ruins display mosaics that look new and remind me of my youngest son with the mythology images.

I arrive early at our rendez-vous point and have a long conversation with a russion immigrant on the rotation of the earth and magnetism...I really need to stop drinking while i walk and am happy when sandy arrives to rescue me

A lovely evening ensues with three generations of genolet,s Sandy, her daughter, and her parents in a wonderful flat overlooking the alps. They are so kind and gracious and are hosting me for two days.

It is so lovely here, i think maybe i stay!

DAY 5: MAY23: REST DAY: St Croix to Yverdons-les-Bains (0 km- o miles...Train)

After difficult end yesterday and having slight fever last night, I awoke to cold and foggy day. So upon walking into village, i kept waffleing whether to walk for day or take train to next town-stop. In my waffleling I got lost and ended up at the train station...decision made. PROVIDENCE! So I chose to take the train for this leg, and though am a bit sad that I missed many wonderful sights, I know there are more to come, and I know I make my mother happy as she has not heard from me on this journey.

So today I get to relax, take in the sights of Yverdon, shop a little, eat a little, visit with the Priests for future advice, and maybe I even wash my clothes. In case you didnt klnow peregrino may mean pilgrim, but it also means STINKY TOURIST!!

Unsure of my next input, but you can see all pictures so far at;
https://viafrancigenawithmichael.shutterfly.com/

DAY 4: May 22: Pontarlier - St Croix

I begin the day early at 6:00, and am happy t have done so. It is to be a shorter day about 15 miles, whereas every day before has been about 20 miles. My ankles are very sore and I worry about injury, so I choose to go slow and let my body heal and grow stronger. It is a wonderful morning and the first thing I see is a Blue Heron, a favorite of mine at my lakehouse. Native maeircans stories think these birds are the messengers of the gods and they fly between the worlds. I like this idea and trust it is an omen for my journey. Amusingly I decide to rest today BEFORE I become tired and each time I realize I am beginning to tire, a small picnic area appears, I feel well take care of. I see deer in the mountains and one is atop of the picture here - CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Later afternoon I cross into Switzerland and it is still lovely. I stop for lunch in a small village, but it is too early for them to be open, but they make me a sandwich anyway, Ca Cest bon.

And then as I near St Croix, the last village before (Lauberson, it begins to rain steady. I think I might take the bus, but realize I have only euros and no swiss francs, so choose to walk on it is terrible, and dangerous as I walk along the road in therain

It  is all uphill, I am wet cold and tired when I arrive in St Croix at 3:00. I hope for a coffe or a beer, but all is closed between 2 and 6. so I find a tiny doorway out of the rain and eat the rest of my sandwich for lunch. And wonder where I will stay.

I decide to find the church and see if they can help me. I ask a lady on the street, "Ou c,est trouve l,eglise" and she is so kind and when she understand s I am pilgrim with no place to stay and it is raining, she puts me in her car and drives me to the church...no one is there, and she helps me find a B& B to stay and drives me there as it is a mile outside the village. My first angel arrives!!!!

I am a little sick with fever at night, but the warm shower, food and long sleep, seem to make me ok for the next day.s journey. We shall see!

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.