• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Rest days on the full VF

Tassie Kaz

Sempre Avanti
Time of past OR future Camino
2024?
Hi Past & Intending VF pilgrims,
Although I welcome responses from all VF-ers, this query is particularly for those who have walked the whole VF (or are planning to) either from London or Canterbury. If you were also subject to Schengen visa time limits, even better!
I'm leaving in a few weeks to tackle the entire length (London-Rome). As it's such a lonnggg journey, how many rest days did you have? Did you end up having more or less rest days than you thought you would prior to setting out?
Of course I understand everyone is different & some days off the trail are enforced due to illness, injury or local conditions. I'm just seeking a broad perspective.
Many thanks 👣 🌏
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Hi @kazrobbo glad to see the planning continues! I was not subject to Schengen limits, as last year UK was still in EU. Next year it (probably) won't be and it seems (though this is not clear) that Schengen limits will apply to UK passport holders. Oh nooooooo. Happily I have an Irish passport too. Obviously your Schengen 'counting' won't start until you board the ferry in Dover, I think. You actually clear French immigration in UK. Note that you need to be at the ferry terminal in Dover, and checked in, at least an hour before the sailing. You can only board by bus and there are a number of "hoops" to pass through - police, security and border checks for both UK and France.
I thought I would take a day off every week or so, but I took less days off. Once I got going I didn't feel the need for a day off, from the physical point of view. (I am 65 and a little fitter than average I think.) And although there were many beautiful places along the way, I found with few exceptions I didn't want to take a 'cultural' day off. It didn't fit with my walking mindset.
I had a rest day in Arras, and a very short day's walk to Reims, and a day off in Besancon, and two days in Lausanne and Geneva, to catch up with friends. I had an enforced "snow day" at the GSB and then I stopped for a day outside Lucca, to stay with a friend. And that was it. Definitely less than I expected. And it felt quite enough.
I wasn't ever injured of sick though I had 'shoe trouble' at Pavia, and had to buy new ones there, and walked a short day after that.
Total days 88 (one of which in UK), not feeling at all rushed.
 
Hi Past & Intending VF pilgrims,
Although I welcome responses from all VF-ers, this query is particularly for those who have walked the whole VF (or are planning to) either from London or Canterbury. If you were also subject to Schengen visa time limits, even better!
I'm leaving in a few weeks to tackle the entire length (London-Rome). As it's such a lonnggg journey, how many rest days did you have? Did you end up having more or less rest days than you thought you would prior to setting out?
Of course I understand everyone is different & some days off the trail are enforced due to illness, injury or local conditions. I'm just seeking a broad perspective.
Many thanks 👣🌏
Hi there
I walked the Italian leg from GSBP last August/September. I chose to have 4 rest days - Vercelli, Piacenza, Lucca and Siena. I guess I had all those days for cultural reasons as it seemed silly to me to travel so far (like you) and just walk on through these amazing cities. Lucca and Siena are wonderful and I definitely would recommend a rest day or two in those places. Happy walking, Mel
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Hi @kazrobbo glad to see the planning continues! I was not subject to Schengen limits, as last year UK was still in EU. Next year it (probably) won't be and it seems (though this is not clear) that Schengen limits will apply to UK passport holders. Oh nooooooo. Happily I have an Irish passport too. Obviously your Schengen 'counting' won't start until you board the ferry in Dover, I think. You actually clear French immigration in UK. Note that you need to be at the ferry terminal in Dover, and checked in, at least an hour before the sailing. You can only board by bus and there are a number of "hoops" to pass through - police, security and border checks for both UK and France.
I thought I would take a day off every week or so, but I took less days off. Once I got going I didn't feel the need for a day off, from the physical point of view. (I am 65 and a little fitter than average I think.) And although there were many beautiful places along the way, I found with few exceptions I didn't want to take a 'cultural' day off. It didn't fit with my walking mindset.
I had a rest day in Arras, and a very short day's walk to Reims, and a day off in Besancon, and two days in Lausanne and Geneva, to catch up with friends. I had an enforced "snow day" at the GSB and then I stopped for a day outside Lucca, to stay with a friend. And that was it. Definitely less than I expected. And it felt quite enough.
I wasn't ever injured of sick though I had 'shoe trouble' at Pavia, and had to buy new ones there, and walked a short day after that.
Total days 88 (one of which in UK), not feeling at all rushed.
Thanks very much Treasure-Trove-Tim!
The only reason I'm able to add the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury to the VF was because time in the UK does not count towards my Schengen limit. I was sweating on possible changes due to Brexit but the whole thing has been a farcical mess & I'll already be in England by the time of the new cut off date.
I was already aware of the Channel ferry formalities & have allowed plenty of time. I'll be staying in Calais that night to well & truly cover possible delays or hiccups.
I wouldn't be as fit as you but my strength is endurance. So far on all my walks I haven't had any illness or injuries.
I'll be starting the PWC within 18 hours of arriving in London...this is less than ideal after the 30hour long haul flight from Tasmania but it's just the way it has to be. My only planned rest days are Canterbury, two side trips to Luxembourg & Florence (2nts each) & a rest day in Besancon. Of we course we all know 'rest day' is a misnomer because you generally still clock up the kms exploring or on errands!
Reading blogs & books, everyone seemed to have quite a number more rest days, hence my query. If all goes to plan (famous last words...) I should arrive in Rome on Day 85 of my Schengen which leaves a few days up my sleeve just in case. I'm a bit like you, once in the walking zone, I don't feel the need to stop. How many times have we experienced or read about that feeling of restlessness when taking a day off?!
The bulk of my planning is done, just some minor tweaking & then packing. The countdown is on & I can't wait!
👣 🌏
 
Hi there
I walked the Italian leg from GSBP last August/September. I chose to have 4 rest days - Vercelli, Piacenza, Lucca and Siena. I guess I had all those days for cultural reasons as it seemed silly to me to travel so far (like you) and just walk on through these amazing cities. Lucca and Siena are wonderful and I definitely would recommend a rest day or two in those places. Happy walking, Mel
Thanks for your input & good wishes Mel. Yes, the long haul to Europe is a journey in itself for us Antipodeans! I agree we've come so far so make the most of our time there. For that reason I'm taking side trips to Luxembourg & Florence (2 nights each). Fortunately I've been to Siena before so as lovely as it is, I don't feel the need to linger there this time. I would like to spend time in Lucca. I'll catch a morning train back from Florence so will have most of the day before back on the trail the following morning.
Out of interest, how many days did you take (incl rest days) to walk GSBP to Rome? ☺
👣 🌏
 
I walked from Canterbury to Rome in summer 2015. Like @timr I do not really enjoy taking a whole day off walking in the middle of a journey. My preferred sort of "rest day" is one in which I walk a relatively short distance (perhaps 15km or so) and then stop earlier than usual. The only places where I spent two nights in the same town were Reims and Siena. During my stay in Reims I walked a few km to cover a short section which I had taken by rail the previous day after an appalling piece of navigation on my part led me a long way off route. I took 66 days from Canterbury to Rome, reaching GSB one month after leaving Canterbury.
 
Last edited:
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
During my stay in Reims I walked a few km to cover a short section which I had taken by rail the previous day after an appalling piece of navigation on my part led me a long way off route.
I laughed when I read this! I would have had to do exactly the same if that happened to me! Although it didn't. And yes, short walking days are enough of a day off for me generally.
 
on my long hauls I usually find out that my body and my mind are very happy to have a rest day every three weeks / month. on my six-month walk I stopped for two and a half days in venice in the first month and a day in genoa in the second, then had one or two very short days in the following months. this last months proved to be more challenging and looking back, it would be better to have those whole rest days instead of near-zero days.
on italian VF my planned rest days are in vercelli, pavia, lucca, siena (probably two) and viterbo.
 
I walked from Canterbury to Rome in summer 2015. Like @timr I do not really enjoy taking a whole day off walking in the middle of a journey. My preferred sort of "rest day" is one in which I walk a relatively short distance (perhaps 15km or so) and then stop earlier than usual. The only places where I spent two nights in the same town were Reims and Siena. During my stay in Reims I walked a few km to cover a short section which I had taken by rail the previous day after an appalling piece of navigation on my part led me a long way off route. I took 66 days from Canterbury to Rome, reaching GSB one month after leaving Canterbury.
Wow...66 days to do the whole VF! That's the shortest time for a walker I've heard of. Did you plan on that time length or was it just the way it unfolded?
I look at the maximum time I have available & 'structure' (I use that term loosely!) my walk to fit. Some walks I have to push on (like St Olav's Way, Norway) & others I can ease off the throttle with shorter daily distances (like Shikoku).
Oh...& of course we all end up geographically embarrassed or misplaced at some point... 😇
👣 🌏
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
Wow...66 days to do the whole VF! That's the shortest time for a walker I've heard of. Did you plan on that time length or was it just the way it unfolded?

I had no fixed finish date in mind - I just walked the days that seemed right at the time. Whenever possible I do not make my travel plans for the journey home until a few days before the end of my walk. With very few home commitments I have the luxury of doing that. It leaves me free to walk the stages which feel right each day without worrying about some bigger overall plan. For most of my time in France and Switzerland I was wild-camping and it made sense to rise soon after first light and then walk through until near sunset. That makes for long days in July and August! I might perhaps have finished two or three days earlier but towards the end of my journey I arranged a date to meet my wife in Rome and I didn't want to get there too far in advance of her so I deliberately slowed down during my last week.
 
Oh...& of course we all end up geographically embarrassed or misplaced at some point... 😇
👣🌏

:) Too true! And more than once on that journey too. I have a friend who visited a monastery in Wales as a guest for a few days some months after I walked the VF. Another guest at the time was a Belgian man and they soon discovered a mutual interest in pilgrimage. When the Belgian said that he had walked the VF my friend mentioned my name and was very surprised when his new friend laughed out loud and said "Wasn't he the man who got lost in the forest near Martigny and ended up spending the night in a shed with the rubbish bins?" Guilty as charged :oops::):)
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
Hi Past & Intending VF pilgrims,
Although I welcome responses from all VF-ers, this query is particularly for those who have walked the whole VF (or are planning to) either from London or Canterbury. If you were also subject to Schengen visa time limits, even better!
I'm leaving in a few weeks to tackle the entire length (London-Rome). As it's such a lonnggg journey, how many rest days did you have? Did you end up having more or less rest days than you thought you would prior to setting out?
Of course I understand everyone is different & some days off the trail are enforced due to illness, injury or local conditions. I'm just seeking a broad perspective.
Many thanks 👣🌏
I was 69 when I did Canterbury-Rome, and actual walking days were 75, with eight days off (three for injury).
 
:) Too true! And more than once on that journey too. I have a friend who visited a monastery in Wales as a guest for a few days some months after I walked the VF. Another guest at the time was a Belgian man and they soon discovered a mutual interest in pilgrimage. When the Belgian said that he had walked the VF my friend mentioned my name and was very surprised when his new friend laughed out loud and said "Wasn't he the man who got lost in the forest near Martigny and ended up spending the night in a shed with the rubbish bins?" Guilty as charged :oops::):)
Ah..the notoriety! Imagine the trail nick-names you'd accrue from your little 'side-trip'... As always, it's our (mis)adventures that make the best stories! 🤭 👣 🌏
 
I walked from Weybridge to Rome in 84 walking days. We had 8 days to reach Canterbury along the North Downs Way and we took a rest day in Canterbury, Mametz, Arras, Reims, Switzerland (4), Aosta, Pavia, Lucca and Siena. Total 96 days and I spent a week in Rome. I love a cultural rest day which means two nights in the same location otherwise it's not a rest. I would have taken more rest days had I been walking alone. We are all different!
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Thanks for responding Tim. Love the thought of your slow journey but alas, that pesky Schengen won't allow me the same. Ah..the bliss of a two night stay! I'm a firm believer in taking the maximum time available to fully enjoy all the trail offers & pursue personal interests. By doing that, I'll have to high-tail it out of Rome/Italy pretty quickly & flee over to Croatia...the only non-Schengen country in the entire region. Luckily I've been to places like Siena & Rome before so won't feel I'm missing out by moving on.
I'm curious about Mametz being a rest point for you...was there a particular reason for that? I'm booked for a night at Gite de Blessy in that area. 🙂
👣 🌏
 
Thanks for responding Tim. Love the thought of your slow journey but alas, that pesky Schengen won't allow me the same. Ah..the bliss of a two night stay! I'm a firm believer in taking the maximum time available to fully enjoy all the trail offers & pursue personal interests. By doing that, I'll have to high-tail it out of Rome/Italy pretty quickly & flee over to Croatia...the only non-Schengen country in the entire region. Luckily I've been to places like Siena & Rome before so won't feel I'm missing out by moving on.
I'm curious about Mametz being a rest point for you...was there a particular reason for that? I'm booked for a night at Gite de Blessy in that area. 🙂
👣🌏
Hello Kazrobbo
The reason for staying in Mametz was to visit two pilgrims whom we met in 2017 on the Via Podiensis. It was great that they live on the Via Francigena. I saw an excellent pilgrim gite in nearby Therouanne called Eden which was brand new and perfect for pilgrims. Great comments in the visitors book... lamaisonpresdumoulin@laposte.net tel 03 21 93 23 13.52610
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
@kazrobbo , I started from Canterbury Cathedral on the last Monday of August 2018 (having already walked Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury in 2016). My intention was to walk at least to Reims, and beyond as far as time permitted.

I intended to have a rest day at Arras by reason of a name and local connection with the Wellington Tunnel on the outskirts. And serendipity gave other connections.

The Cathedral at Reims was an attraction for me, as was the SHAEF headquarters. And the wonderful town-scape.

I stopped on a Sunday at Chaumont having walked 18 days, 1 day on a boat including some walking before and after and 2 rest days.

My route in France was:
Canterbury > Shepherdswell (tent) > Calais (hotel) > Licques (cabin) > (Lumbres - lunch) > Therouanne (gite) > Gauchin Legal (tent) > Arras (rest day) (hotel x 2) > Rancourt (hotel) > Peronne (hotel) > Saint Quentin (hotel) > Tergnier (tent) > Laon (hotel) > Romichy (tent) > Reims (rest day) (hotel x 2) > Conde-sur-Marne (gprivate room) > La Chaussée-sur-Marne (tent) > Brienne-le-Chateau (gite) > Bar-sur-Aube (hotel) > Colombey-des-deux-eglise (hotel) > Chaumont (hotel)

I would have preferred to tent more often. However my tablet is power hungry and needs regular recharging, so ...

My current intention is to return April 2020 (which, I guess, means busing under the Grand Saint Bernard) and continue from Chaumont to Rome.

I am inclined to divert to Milan and Florence (to deliver urgent diplomatic dispatches)

So, @kazrobbo , I wish you kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going) for your pilgrimmage ahead.
 
@kazrobbo , I started from Canterbury Cathedral on the last Monday of August 2018 (having already walked Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury in 2016). My intention was to walk at least to Reims, and beyond as far as time permitted.

I intended to have a rest day at Arras by reason of a name and local connection with the Wellington Tunnel on the outskirts. And serendipity gave other connections.

The Cathedral at Reims was an attraction for me, as was the SHAEF headquarters. And the wonderful town-scape.

I stopped on a Sunday at Chaumont having walked 18 days, 1 day on a boat including some walking before and after and 2 rest days.

My route in France was:
Canterbury > Shepherdswell (tent) > Calais (hotel) > Licques (cabin) > (Lumbres - lunch) > Therouanne (gite) > Gauchin Legal (tent) > Arras (rest day) (hotel x 2) > Rancourt (hotel) > Peronne (hotel) > Saint Quentin (hotel) > Tergnier (tent) > Laon (hotel) > Romichy (tent) > Reims (rest day) (hotel x 2) > Conde-sur-Marne (gprivate room) > La Chaussée-sur-Marne (tent) > Brienne-le-Chateau (gite) > Bar-sur-Aube (hotel) > Colombey-des-deux-eglise (hotel) > Chaumont (hotel)

I would have preferred to tent more often. However my tablet is power hungry and needs regular recharging, so ...

My current intention is to return April 2020 (which, I guess, means busing under the Grand Saint Bernard) and continue from Chaumont to Rome.

I am inclined to divert to Milan and Florence (to deliver urgent diplomatic dispatches)

So, @kazrobbo , I wish you kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going) for your pilgrimmage ahead.
Thanks for your detailed reply Alwyn...your path often coincides with my intended route although I will be tent-less! 😁
My only planned trail breaks are 2 nights in Canterbury, side trips to Luxembourg & Florence (2 nights each) & 2 nights in Besancon. I could have slotted in a few more but have opted for shorter walking days instead...especially in Italy where accommodation is more plentiful.
I have no expectations of crossing GSBP (1st week of May) so I'll be bussing under too.
I'd love to respond with an Aussie equivalent to your Kiwi wishes but I don't think there is one! I'll just wish you all the very best instead. 🙂 👣 🌏
 
on my long hauls I usually find out that my body and my mind are very happy to have a rest day every three weeks / month. on my six-month walk I stopped for two and a half days in venice in the first month and a day in genoa in the second, then had one or two very short days in the following months. this last months proved to be more challenging and looking back, it would be better to have those whole rest days instead of near-zero days.
on italian VF my planned rest days are in vercelli, pavia, lucca, siena (probably two) and viterbo.
Great to know your experience of 'short days' versus 'full rest days' Caminka. I'll be doing a combination of both opting more towards shorter walking days once in Italy.
Happy planning & happy trails! 😊 👣 🌏
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Word of the lost.😉Lucca is lovely a walk around the old fortification. There is Chef Paola Monti that offers star cuisine cooking class or going to the market with accommodation and special prices for groups. You just go to market with him as well.
To the lost part. My kids and me went hiking in the Vinci hills. What was signed out as a 5 k walk ended up with us hopelessly lost in the Vinci olive gardens. It was raining as befitted spring. Our puppy was so tiered he tried to make a bed in the wet grass and my son carried him the rest of the way. We asked a delivery man an a Piaggio tricycle and he laughed and told us always up the hill. An old lady gave us shelter for a bit and coffee, but her directions at the Madinina right did not really worked out since there was Mary on every corner. Did I mention no cell phone reception in the hills. So finally a gentleman took pity with us and drove us. Over 20 k back to our car in Vinci. But we roamed the hills Leonardo did.
We lived near Pisa , by all means do the sight seeing , but in many ways it’s a tourist trap, not really lovely people know since antiquity for their business senses.
If you eat leave the walking zone of Pisa behind cross the river and see where the students crows are. Pisa is a student city. There you will get you money’s worth of pizza. Nearby is San Pedro al Grado, where St. Peter stepped on land a really beauty’s old church. Then the sea reach up to the church. Maybe you pass this.
Everybody is so taken with Toskany, but maybe you pass Umbria in my opinion as diverse and cultural rich, but so much more beautiful and green.
Save yourself a lot of time in Rome with the Roma card. We bought ours at a kiosk right before you go the stretch to the Vatican and St. Peter. Roma card holders have special entrances at the Colosseum and you can skip the line when entering the forum Romanum with it. Saves hours. Near the Pantheon have a coffee at the Tazza d’oro. Best ever. In case you have not been to Italy there are three different prices in a Bar. Most expensive sitting outside, next sitting inside and least expensive at the bar . That what most Italian do.
Just let me know where you planned to stop maybe I have been there.
If you have planned of going to the Pope audience on St. Peter place on Wednesday and it’s bad weather, they may move to to the large audience hall. First time with the kids there we were to late but waited outside that audience hall to get a glimpse of the pope , mainly to see his white cape. Then I overheard the Swiss Guard speaking to their headsets and asking do you have not some more room there are the so many faithful waiting and after a confirmation we could get in in-between the pilgrim groups.
All the best.
 
Hi Past & Intending VF pilgrims,
Although I welcome responses from all VF-ers, this query is particularly for those who have walked the whole VF (or are planning to) either from London or Canterbury. If you were also subject to Schengen visa time limits, even better!
I'm leaving in a few weeks to tackle the entire length (London-Rome). As it's such a lonnggg journey, how many rest days did you have? Did you end up having more or less rest days than you thought you would prior to setting out?
Of course I understand everyone is different & some days off the trail are enforced due to illness, injury or local conditions. I'm just seeking a broad perspective.
Many thanks 👣🌏
Hi kazrobbo,
I am a fellow Australian researching the Via Francigena, which my wife and I are planning to walk, in total, starting mid April. As you are we were worried about Schengen zone 90 day restrictions but as part of my research I have found that number of countries, including Italy, have BILATERAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS that pre-exist the Schengen zone agreement and such give us (Aussies) the opportunity to extend our stays beyond the Schengen 90 days. II have attached a couple of documents that provide some detail. Suffice to say it has some complications with countries like France but with some planning the waiver agreements really provide options for slow holiday folks / pilgrims.
We will be taking some rest / tourist days but they will be scheduled to meet up with Friends along the way.
Hope this is useful, apologies if already up to speed. Regards, Risky
 

Attachments

  • 01 Aus Gov Italian Australian Bilateral Visa Waiver.pdf
    208.6 KB · Views: 5
  • 02 Aus Gov SmartTraveller Bipartisan Visa Waiver Agreements.pdf
    266.9 KB · Views: 3
  • 03 Italy Visa Waiver Agreement Status 19-01-2019.pdf
    44.3 KB · Views: 3
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Hi kazrobbo,
I am a fellow Australian researching the Via Francigena, which my wife and I are planning to walk, in total, starting mid April. As you are we were worried about Schengen zone 90 day restrictions but as part of my research I have found that number of countries, including Italy, have BILATERAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS that pre-exist the Schengen zone agreement and such give us (Aussies) the opportunity to extend our stays beyond the Schengen 90 days. II have attached a couple of documents that provide some detail. Suffice to say it has some complications with countries like France but with some planning the waiver agreements really provide options for slow holiday folks / pilgrims.
We will be taking some rest / tourist days but they will be scheduled to meet up with Friends along the way.
Hope this is useful, apologies if already up to speed. Regards, Risky
Hi Risky,
Many thanks for your input & very helpful attachments. I was aware of the bi-lateral agreement for Aussies but didn't look into it too deeply. I'd heard it was a messy & complicated process plus commitments at home mean I have to complete the journey in the Schengen timeframe anyway!
Under @Mr_Ross_Duncan 's thread 'Early Stage Via Francigena planning...' @Chrisp responded to one of my posts about the Schengen. They successfully used the visa waiver with no problems applying, or on exiting Italy. Won't help me this time but good to know others have taken advantage of this little known Schengen waiver & it has worked for them.
All the best for your VF starting in April. I leave in just over a week 😯 so it's unlikely our paths will cross but nice to know someone else will be 'out there somewhere' tackling the entire length! 😊
👣 🌏
 
Thanks for your input & good wishes Mel. Yes, the long haul to Europe is a journey in itself for us Antipodeans! I agree we've come so far so make the most of our time there. For that reason I'm taking side trips to Luxembourg & Florence (2 nights each). Fortunately I've been to Siena before so as lovely as it is, I don't feel the need to linger there this time. I would like to spend time in Lucca. I'll catch a morning train back from Florence so will have most of the day before back on the trail the following morning.
Out of interest, how many days did you take (incl rest days) to walk GSBP to Rome? ☺
👣🌏
I took 40 walking days and 4 rest days. I tried to space them out evenly, but it didn't always work out that way.
 
Thanks for your input & good wishes Mel. Yes, the long haul to Europe is a journey in itself for us Antipodeans! I agree we've come so far so make the most of our time there. For that reason I'm taking side trips to Luxembourg & Florence (2 nights each). Fortunately I've been to Siena before so as lovely as it is, I don't feel the need to linger there this time. I would like to spend time in Lucca. I'll catch a morning train back from Florence so will have most of the day before back on the trail the following morning.
Out of interest, how many days did you take (incl rest days) to walk GSBP to Rome? ☺
👣 🌏
40 walking days and 4 rest days. Here is a link to my blog, if you would like to read some daily posts about different stages: https://lifeonebigadventure.com/202...nd-why-of-walking-the-italian-via-francigena/

Apologies for the delay in replying. For some reason I didn't get a message/notification. Bye, Mel
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
40 walking days and 4 rest days. Here is a link to my blog, if you would like to read some daily posts about different stages: https://lifeonebigadventure.com/202...nd-why-of-walking-the-italian-via-francigena/

Apologies for the delay in replying. For some reason I didn't get a message/notification. Bye, Mel
Amazing 'housekeeping' @Stripey Socks! How did you manage to dig up my thread from nearly 3 years ago? 😄
Thanks for the link to your blog...I'll enjoy reading that...I'm sure it will evoke a trip down memory lane.

To conclude my story; I did indeed complete a combo of the PWC & the VF (London to Rome), taking a total of 93 days March to June 2019. I posted half a dozen spiels to the Forum as I went along.
As I suspected, I did indeed also completely screw up the whole rest days thingy!
I left it too long for the first one (a planned side trip to Luxembourg from Chalons en Champagne about 3.5 weeks in), then 9 days later, got shin splints enforcing a 4 night stop in Besançon. I was desperate for a break another 3.5 weeks down the track so spent 2 nights in Fidenza. My final 'rest' was a 2 night distraction in Firenze...no rest there...so much to see & do!
Although 93 days seems a long time, it was a constant push to keep moving due to having the Schengen limit hanging over my head & trying to stay in my comfy zone of approx 25km per day. As it was, I made it with just 72 hours remaining. Even the Immigration Police commented "only little time left" 😯 when I departed Ancona for the ferry to Split, Croatia (a carefully chosen non-Schengen country)!

Although the VF will never be my favourite LDW, I'm so thankful to have done it...& especially, in hindsight, to do it when I did.
Who knew less than 6 months after my return, the whole world would change?...& more than 2 years later, is still far from 'normal'.
Best wishes to you for your future endeavours Mel.
Sempre avanti everyone...got to do what you can, when you can, while you can.
👣 🌏
20211227_125159.jpg
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Amazing 'housekeeping' @Stripey Socks! How did you manage to dig up my thread from nearly 3 years ago? 😄
Thanks for the link to your blog...I'll enjoy reading that...I'm sure it will evoke a trip down memory lane.

To conclude my story; I did indeed complete a combo of the PWC & the VF (London to Rome), taking a total of 93 days March to June 2019. I posted half a dozen spiels to the Forum as I went along.
As I suspected, I did indeed also completely screw up the whole rest days thingy!
I left it too long for the first one (a planned side trip to Luxembourg from Chalons en Champagne about 3.5 weeks in), then 9 days later, got shin splints enforcing a 4 night stop in Besançon. I was desperate for a break another 3.5 weeks down the track so spent 2 nights in Fidenza. My final 'rest' was a 2 night distraction in Firenze...no rest there...so much to see & do!
Although 93 days seems a long time, it was a constant push to keep moving due to having the Schengen limit hanging over my head & trying to stay in my comfy zone of approx 25km per day. As it was, I made it with just 72 hours remaining. Even the Immigration Police commented "only little time left" 😯 when I departed Ancona for the ferry to Split, Croatia (a carefully chosen non-Schengen country)!

Although the VF will never be my favourite LDW, I'm so thankful to have done it...& especially, in hindsight, to do it when I did.
Who knew less than 6 months after my return, the whole world would change?...& more than 2 years later, is still far from 'normal'.
Best wishes to you for your future endeavours Mel.
Sempre avanti everyone...got to do what you can, when you can, while you can.
👣 🌏
View attachment 115530
OMG! I am so late to the party. Your walk sounds breath-taking...in every sense of the word. Buen camino or whatever it is for wherever you walk.
 
OMG! I am so late to the party. Your walk sounds breath-taking...in every sense of the word. Buen camino or whatever it is for wherever you walk.
Better late than never! 😊 It was lovely to go back over my pre-VF concerns & then re-live my actual experiences...so thank you 🙏 for that. It was also a case of the old...'if I only knew then, what I know now' scenario. 🤗
Happy trails,
Karen
👣 🌏
 

Most read last week in this forum

The official Via Francigena site has published a list of free walks ** happening in 2024. If you happen to be passing through you might want to take part - or avoid that section that day. (**...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top