Way to St James Cygnet

[AJGuillaume]

G'day,
I was wondering whether there were any members of this forum joining the Way to St James Cygnet in the Huon Valley on 15th and 16th January 2022.

More info can be found here:

The Way to St James Cygnet

Inspired by the famous Spanish El Camino of St James this two day pilgrim walk will take you through the scenic and peaceful Huon Valley to a celebration at the Spanish mission styled Church of St James, nestled in the heart of Cygnet, Tasmania.

www.waytostjames.com.au

It would be great to meet in person.

 

[Sandra Riordan]

G'day,
I was wondering whether there were any members of this forum joining the Way to St James Cygnet in the Huon Valley on 15th and 16th January 2022.

More info can be found here:

The Way to St James Cygnet

Inspired by the famous Spanish El Camino of St James this two day pilgrim walk will take you through the scenic and peaceful Huon Valley to a celebration at the Spanish mission styled Church of St James, nestled in the heart of Cygnet, Tasmania.

www.waytostjames.com.au

It would be great to meet in person.

I’m contemplating it.

 

[Alan Pearce]

I will be there!

 

[Tassie Kaz]

@AJGuillaume, @Sandra Riordan & @Alan Pearce, if you do participate in the walk, would you mind posting of your experience?
Knowing my Camino history & reactions, non-walking friends who have heard about it through the media enthusiastically say I should do it but I have to confess, it makes me cringe. It looks to me as if it's trying to duplicate or 'force' an experience which can't be duplicated or forced...& definitely not in two days! The website photos & description do nothing to quell my feelings of reluctance & the urge to avoid it...
I'm all for people seeking a special experience & I really hope it delivers for those who do participate...especially if it is a dream to do the 'real' Camino & they are unable so I'd be very happy to have my instinct towards it prove unfounded.

In the meantime, what draws you to it? Is it that sense of connection, of trying to recapture your own journey...or something else?
Whatever the case, I hope the event
a/ does actually get to go ahead (Tassie's border re-opening mid Dec is expected to bring Covid cases regardless of vaccination rates) &
b/ it is a huge success for organisers & participants alike.

Happy trails!

 

[tassiesue]

G'day,
I was wondering whether there were any members of this forum joining the Way to St James Cygnet in the Huon Valley on 15th and 16th January 2022.

More info can be found here:

The Way to St James Cygnet

Inspired by the famous Spanish El Camino of St James this two day pilgrim walk will take you through the scenic and peaceful Huon Valley to a celebration at the Spanish mission styled Church of St James, nestled in the heart of Cygnet, Tasmania.

www.waytostjames.com.au

It would be great to meet in person.

I'm going and have completed the walk twice before. Enjoyed the pilgrimage but wasn't long enough to get to know people but it led me to the Camino de Santiago from tassie sue

 

[taigirl]

Hello, I am from NE Victoria and walking with a friend. My first time for this walk and excited to give my shell another outing.

 

[taigirl]

I understand your apprehension. My sister feels the same way. I just need to escape Victoria for a while and plan to have some time for quiet contemplation. I don't think it should be compared to the Camino.

 

[peregrina2000]

G'day,
I was wondering whether there were any members of this forum joining the Way to St James Cygnet in the Huon Valley on 15th and 16th January 2022.

More info can be found here:

The Way to St James Cygnet

Inspired by the famous Spanish El Camino of St James this two day pilgrim walk will take you through the scenic and peaceful Huon Valley to a celebration at the Spanish mission styled Church of St James, nestled in the heart of Cygnet, Tasmania.

www.waytostjames.com.au

It would be great to meet in person.

AJ, is that a picture of you and your beloved on their website?!

 

[AJGuillaume]

would you mind posting of your experience?

@Tassie Kaz , this will be the second time I participate in Tassie, last year, because of Covid, we joined by doing two walks in bushland around Melbourne.

I have to confess, it makes me cringe. It looks to me as if it's trying to duplicate or 'force' an experience which can't be duplicated or forced...& definitely not in two days!

I don't think it's trying to duplicate anything, or 'force' an experience.

I don't think it should be compared to the Camino.

@taigirl is right, the Way to St James Cygnet is not comparable to the Camino.

There is a Camino theme, but it is not a Camino.

In 2018, my wife and I walked from Switzerland to SdC, following the Gebennensis, the Voie du Puy, and the Camino del Norte, 2178 km in 4.5 months. When we joined the Francés at Arzúa, we saw in one day as many pilgrims as we had seen in the 4 months preceding. And what made me choose the Norte was that my wife and I cringed at the popularity of the Francés, and the fact that in places, there's a conga line of pilgrims. Probably the same feeling you have for the Way to St James Cygnet.

What draws us to it? The same thing that drew us to our long Camino in 2018: the opportunity to walk and reflect on life, to meet like minded people, and in the case of the Way to St James Cygnet, to enjoy a nice walk in the Huon Valley.

 

[AJGuillaume]

AJ, is that a picture of you and your beloved on their website?!

Yes it is, @peregrina2000

 

[Kanga]

It looks like a lovely way to spend a couple of days. Tasmania is a gorgeous place to walk, whatever the reason! I am intrigued by the architecture of the church, would love to visit some day.

January for me is an impossible time, but I hope everyone who does the walk enjoys it.

 

[tassiesue]

It looks like a lovely way to spend a couple of days. Tasmania is a gorgeous place to walk, whatever the reason! I am intrigued by the architecture of the church, would love to visit some day.

January for me is an impossible time, but I hope everyone who does the walk enjoys it.

Hi kanga it is a lovely short walk in beautiful countryside and this led me from twice the way of saint James to Camino Frances in 2019

 

[Roseangel]

I'm booked for this walk and very much looking forward to it. Hoping borders are open etc
After having booked and cancelled in 2020 days and 2021 it will be lovely to walk and talk Camino.

 

[Alan Pearce]

I'm booked for this walk and very much looking forward to it. Hoping borders are open etc
After having booked and cancelled in 2020 days and 2021 it will be lovely to walk and talk Camino.

Angela, I am catching the bus in Hobart on the Saturday morning to get to the starting point. Maybe I will see you there?

 

[taigirl]

Me too. I am also catching the bus. Looking forward to it.

 

[AJGuillaume]

Angela, I am catching the bus in Hobart on the Saturday morning to get to the starting point. Maybe I will see you there?

Me too. I am also catching the bus. Looking forward to it.

That makes at least four of us catching the bus in Hobart, as my wife and I will be there too!

 

[Roseangel]

Angela, I am catching the bus in Hobart on the Saturday morning to get to the starting point. Maybe I will see you there?

I am also. See you all then. Fingers crossed.

 

[taigirl]

I will be with two other friends from Victoria. We are flying into Hobart on Friday morning. They might need to get a bigger bus!!

 

[Roseangel]

I will be with two other friends from Victoria. We are flying into Hobart on Friday morning. They might need to get a bigger bus!!

I'm flying Friday morning too. So looking forward to this little escape

 

[Alan Pearce]

I am flying on Friday morning too, from Canberra direct to Hobart.

Alan

 

[Tassie Kaz]

...my wife and I cringed at the popularity of the Francés, and the fact that in places, there's a conga line of pilgrims. Probably the same feeling you have for the Way to St James Cygnet.

Absolutely...the Cygnet Way website says things like walk in 'solitude' & 'quiet contemplation' & yet their own photos show it as anything but! Large numbers of people (I assume it would have to be capped at some point...or maybe not?) walking at set times & set distance (+ a bussed section I believe?)...far more congested than anything I encountered, even from Sarria onwards, on my CF in 2012.
Anyway, each to their own & I wish all involved the very best for the experience.

 

[Blaster]

Well, I can swell the ranks of those going and hoping to catch the bus from Hobart….better get a bigger bus…. I have 5 Camino Frances et al under the belt but just look forward to the Camino experience to start the Covid escaping year off!! I have a room with a double and single booked for the day before and after if anyone wants to Camino share at Wrest Point Hobart. Look forward to a fun time then Sep 2022 off to the Camino Frances again…Tony

 

[Blaster]

Just a quick heads up.
I got the cancellation notice of the walk but as my flights and accommodation are all booked I have decided to go ahead and walk, if necessary around Hobart - I may be the 'token' pilgrim!
I did chat to Fr Tate to let him know and it looks like it will have to be mainly a road walk for me but - "C'est la vie".
I will be triple vaxxed and will have been tested prior to leaving Sydney - I'm not at the moment in an extreme risk area as I live in the Blue mountains,
I will have Rapid Antigen tests with me and I will wear a mask and use QR codes etc, as any tourist, so I don't believe I will pose any risk to locals and I will follow all health directives as at the time.
It will all be flexible, as who know where we'll all be in 3 weeks, but we'll see if - as always - the Camino will provide!
Happy New Year
TJ

 

[Roseangel]

Good on you TJ. I will be triple vaxxed by then and it may be I am unable to cancel my flight from Melbourne. I had a quick look. I have accomodation I could cancel for the Friday night. I'm in two minds. Usually I be up for a little adventures and do love Hobart but will see.
I was booked for the Blue Mountains Camino in November and have cancelled 2020 & 2021 Caminos. Fingers crossed for 2022.
Very sad for the folk organising the event as so much work involved. Nearly got there but that's life unfortunately

 

[AJGuillaume]

Same here, we have our flights and accommodation booked, so we're coming to Tassie. We fly into Hobart on 12 January, and fly out on 19 January. We nearly missed out on reasonably priced rooms for the night of 15 January, replacing the night in Ranelagh, because of the Ashes
We had looked at a number of walks around Hobart ( we won't have a car), so we'll just add two more walks. Our walks are mostly to the West of Hobart. We'll use public transport on some days to get us to starting points.

 

[Blaster]

Good on you TJ. I will be triple vaxxed by then and it may be I am unable to cancel my flight from Melbourne. I had a quick look. I have accomodation I could cancel for the Friday night. I'm in two minds. Usually I be up for a little adventures and do love Hobart but will see.
I was booked for the Blue Mountains Camino in November and have cancelled 2020 & 2021 Caminos. Fingers crossed for 2022.
Very sad for the folk organising the event as so much work involved. Nearly got there but that's life unfortunately

Hi Roseangel
If you come that would be terrific - On the night of the 14th after getting in (staying at Wrest Point in Hobart) I am planning to have a seafood chowder at the Drunken Admiral on the wharf - I dream of it from year to year!
I am also staying in the hotel on the 16th and flying out on the 17th so plan to walk on 15&16th as planned.
Hope you had a great Christmas and Happy new Year
TJ

 

[Blaster]

Same here, we have our flights and accommodation booked, so we're coming to Tassie. We fly into Hobart on 12 January, and fly out on 19 January. We nearly missed out on reasonably priced rooms for the night of 15 January, replacing the night in Ranelagh, because of the Ashes
We had looked at a number of walks around Hobart ( we won't have a car), so we'll just add two more walks. Our walks are mostly to the West of Hobart. We'll use public transport on some days to get us to starting points.

If it works, I'll be taking a taxi to the area on 15th and back to Hobart on 16th, happy to provide the lift to you both but night 15th may be a problem for you.

 

[AJGuillaume]

If it works, I'll be taking a taxi to the area on 15th and back to Hobart on 16th, happy to provide the lift to you both but night 15th may be a problem for you.

Thank you for the offer. We have decided to walk from our accommodation in Hobart towards the Cascade walk, and come back through the Knocklofty Reserve. The next day, we'll probably walk through the Waterworks reserve and Tomans Hill.

 

[Blaster]

Thank you for the offer. We have decided to walk from our accommodation in Hobart towards the Cascade walk, and come back through the Knocklofty Reserve. The next day, we'll probably walk through the Waterworks reserve and Tomans Hill.

Enjoy.
May see you in Hobart possibly
Tony

 

[Alan Pearce]

I have switched my flights from January to mid-May. I will do the virtual camino walking on the dirt road that runs outside Cowra where I live. It is a great disappointment that I will miss the walk to Cygnet, and that I will not see my new granddaughter in Hobart [hence the trip in May].

I am still hoping that I can get to Spain in August/Sept/Oct next year to see old friends and to walk some caminos.

Be brave. Life is joyous.

Alan

 

[Blaster]

Just a quick note as, RAT test permitting, I will fly out tomorrow for the Cygnet towards St James "Pilgrimage".

I'm staying in Hobart at the Wrest point on 14 and 17.

Due to the official cancellation of all activity on the ground on Sat 15 I'll be busing to Grove and will plan to see Fr Tate and go to the Mountain River Hall for the 10.30 am opening ceremony.

Then it's a solitary walk via the church at Ranelagh to Huonville and a night in a B&B at Art House.

Sun I will again walk alone from Huonville to Cygnet and visit the Church for possible stamps on the Compostella I will next take to another Camino Frances, hopefully later this year.

Then it's the bus back to Hobart and home on Mon.

You will all be in my thoughts, especially those on the virtual Camino.

TJ - the Mainland Token Pilgrim or MTF!

 

[AJGuillaume]

We're already in Hobart, arrived yesterday. Today we walked from Kingston Beach to Sandy Bay.
I didn't know we could attend the opening ceremony on 15 January.
As we have accommodation booked in Sandy Bay, we'll be walking in the foothills of Kunanyi on 15 and 16 January.