Leaving Le Puy en Velay (starting from Paray le Monial on May 4th)

[Luka]

Wow... my manager just told me that my short sabbatical next year should be fine... This means that I can continue walking to Santiago the end of April 2015!!! At least 3 months, at least 1.700 km! Unbelievable...

Long story short: I started walking from Amsterdam to Santiago in 2010. First day walks, then weekends, then weeks, then several weeks. Until I ended up about 250 km north of Le Puy en Velay in France in 2012. My big wish was to walk all the way to Santiago from there at once. About 1.700 km.

I asked my - then - manager for an unpaid leave in 2012. He took half a year to consider it and then rejected it. Since then I have been awaiting the next 'right moment'. And now I found it: a new manager, in between assignments, enough money in my savings account... And just half an hour ago my manager said yes!!

A dream comes true... I am a bit swept off my feet now...

 

[domigee]

Won-der-ful news! Very happy for you.

 

[DurhamParish]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy.

 

[karenfromcali]

Wow... my manager just told me that my short sabbatical next year should be fine... This means that I can continue walking to Santiago the end of April 2015!!! At least 3 months, at least 1.700 km! Unbelievable...

Long story short: I started walking from Amsterdam to Santiago in 2010. First day walks, then weekends, then weeks, then several weeks. Until I ended up about 100 km north of Le Puy en Velay in France in 2012. My big wish was to walk all the way to Santiago from there at once. About 1.700 km.

I asked my - then - manager for an unpaid leave in 2012. He took half a year to consider it and then rejected it. Since then I have been awaiting the next 'right moment'. And now I found it: a new manager, in between assignments, enough money in my savings account... And just half an hour ago my manager said yes!!

A dream comes true... I am a bit swept off my feet now...

Just woke up to this and it has made my morning. A wonderful blessing and opportunity. So absolutely thrilled for you!
Buen camino

 

[wayfarer]

Great news Luka, I am delighted for you.

 

[Luka]

Wow, thanks! It is not official yet, so I can't shout it around. But here I can! And here I find people who can imagine how excited I am!

 

[Jan_89]

Great! Enjoy your planning of Camino!

Before my Camino in July 2014 I left my job, because it was first Camino and I didn't know how much time I will need for this journey. Now I know it, but for me it was the best decision which I would do again. Camino was the best experience of my life and one day I wanna walk from the Czech Republic and with peace in my soul I will leave my job again, because Camino = life!

BUEN CAMINO!

Jan

 

[lettinggo]

Sounds wonderful.
Enjoy your planning Luka and best wishes for you adventure next year.
Lettinggo

 

[KinkyOne]

Wow, thanks! It is not official yet, so I can't shout it around. But here I can! And here I find people who can imagine how excited I am!

Completely understand how you feel right now. Ultreia

 

[mikevasey]

Congratulations!!!!!!!

 

[SYates]

Very, very happy for you! Such a long walk is a great experience, if there is anything information wise I can help you with - just ask, SY

 

[Julio Gone Camino]

Wow... my manager just told me that my short sabbatical next year should be fine...

I have been awaiting the next 'right moment'. And now I found it: a new manager, in between assignments, enough money in my savings account... And just half an hour ago my manager said yes!!

What fantastic news! You must be thrilled!

I know a lot of people give up work before going on Camino, either quit their jobs or take early retirement or fully retire, and others are able to arrange a sabbatical. Sadly, for me, the latter seems unlikely - where I work, and the role I have, time off over and above holiday allowance (even unpaid time) doesn't seem a realistic proposition. So much so, in fact, that I daren't ask for fear of having my "commitment to the job" questioned, and the subsequent issues that that is likely to cause.

So I'll have to take the second option - perhaps wait until a time when I can give up work on my terms - before planning a long, continuous Camino.

One day, though (DV)!

 

[Luka]

@SYates thanks for your offer! You seem very, very experienced!
@Julio Gone Camino I hope your time will come too! Sometimes the fear we fear most is fear itself.

 

[Julio Gone Camino]

@Julio Gone Camino I hope your time will come too! Sometimes the fear we fear most is fear itself.

You are right, of course!

Sometimes decsions have to be made that take us out of our comfort zone - they're often not easy, but need taking all the same. I think the time will come to do just that, but perhaps that time is not quite here - not especially from a fear-factor point of view, but simply because it just isn't quite the right moment.

Yet!

 

[ccmranger]

Fantastic news! Congratulations!!

 

[Luka]

You are right, of course!

Sometimes decsions have to be made that take us out of our comfort zone - they're often not easy, but need taking all the same. I think the time will come to do just that, but perhaps that time is not quite here - not especially from a fear-factor point of view, but simply because it just isn't quite the right moment.

Yet!

I agree. As long as you keep faith that it is going to happen some day. Then you just have a very long time to look forward to it ;-)

 

[Arn]

Luka,
"Timing is everything!"
Buen Camino,

Arn

 

[pilgrim b]

Have a wonderful journey Luka with many blessings too. Buen Camino.

 

[Rachael]

How WONDERFUL! Enjoy the planning and anticipation. Soon you will be there!

 

[Thomas1962]

Geweldig nieuws! Your title of this thread is exactly what I hope to scream out loud in some weeks. I want to start the camino from my doorstep in Amsterdam straight to SdC for years and am now negociating with my manager fto do this next year...which means that I might completely quit my job. Sometimes the first step is a big step

While dreaming and reading about my trip I found your blogs, was very nice to read them.
Verheug ze & keep us informed. Hope you will blog again!

 

[Luka]

Ha Thomas, thanks! I hope to continue my blog when I am back on track.
Big things for you ahead as well! I didn't dare to quit my job. I hope things will work out for you as well, one way or the other!

 

[Al the optimist]

What wonderful news Luka. Fingers crossed it becomes official.

 

[grayland]

We are all very happy for you, Amiga!

The best part is that you will get to experience the LePuy to Santiago Camino as it should be. It is two separate experiences in one trip.

Walking through France to St. Jean is so very different than the Camino Frances in Spain. When you arrive in SJPdP after 30 odd days and seeing all those about to start ....the feeling of starting a Camino is again experienced.

Should be a little cooler (and wetter) than our Via de la Plata experiences.
I had 33 straight days of rain from LePuy, than none from St. Jean......but enjoyed them all.

 

[Luka]

Ah yes, the Via de la Plata...
33 days of rain, incredible... I expect (and hope) the weather to be a little bit better in May in southern France... que será, será...
It is actually 2 caminos and a small 3rd one! I want to start from Paray-le-Monial, which will most likely be about 240 km of solitude before I reach Le-Puy-en-Velay.

 

[Luka]

What wonderful news Luka. Fingers crossed it becomes official.

Tomorrow I will talk to the second boss who has to agree...

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I expect (and hope) the weather to be a little bit better in May

In May 2013 it rained for 26 days in France! Floods were the worst in Lourdes in decades. Hope, but prepare!! Bon chemin.

 

[Luka]

I will! Second manager said YES!!! Now it all depends on myself, I can make it happen!

 

[Al the optimist]

Brilliant news. Brightens up a black (eye) day.

 

[Luka]

Only 40 days and I'll be catching a train to Paray-le-Monial!!

 

[Luka]

Only 10 sleeps...

 

[Luka]

Only one...

 

[peregrina2000]

Buen camino, Luka,

I know this has been a long time coming for you! May it be a wonderful camino. I will be a bit behind you, I think, but who knows, maybe we will coincide if you decide to walk the Invierno. Keep in touch when you can, buen camino, Laurie

 

[SYates]

Buen Camino! SY