Meet walking "Joaquin"

[Bob from L.A. !]

For the last 61 days I have been walking alone on the Via Francigena and only occasionally have encountered a fellow walker, going in the same direction since there are "so" many routes one can walk to Rome.
This afternoon while going south across the long bridge going into Fornovo d'taro I noticed this man wearing a straw hat and a backpack , carrying a long walking stick walking northbound.
When we passed we both stopped and recognized each other as walking pilgrims and struck up a conversation.
He, speaking Spanish and 50% English and me speaking English and 50% Spanish had a 15 minute "peregrino" conversation about our travels.
He said he was 71 years old and from the area of Alicante Spain and had started his walk in Jerusalem, walked to Rome and was now on his way to Santiago Spain.
I am/was amazed at his journey. I just hope I am alive and can get out of bed when I'm 71!...

 

[mspath]

For the last 61 days I have been walking alone on the Via Francigena and only occasionally have encountered a fellow walker, going in the same direction since there are "so" many routes one can walk to Rome.
This afternoon while going south across the long bridge going into Fornovo d'taro I noticed this man wearing a straw hat and a backpack , carrying a long walking stick walking northbound.
When we passed we both stopped and recognized each other as walking pilgrims and struck up a conversation.
He, speaking Spanish and 50% English and me speaking English and 50% Spanish had a 15 minute "peregrino" conversation about our travels.
He said he was 71 years old and from the area of Alicante Spain and had started his walk in Jerusalem, walked to Rome and was now on his way to Santiago Spain.
I am/was amazed at his journey. I just hope I am alive and can get out of bed when I'm 71!...

To you both,
Wherever however you may walk
Godspeed and Ultreia !

 

[MinaKamina]

Bob, I get the impression that one of you is going in the wrong direction.... you are both heading to Rome, or... Maybe something got lost in the 50-50%

 

[Bradypus]

Bob, I get the impression that one of you is going in the wrong direction.... you are both heading to Rome, or... Maybe something got lost in the 50-50%

Seemed fairly clear to me - the gentleman started walking in Jerusalem, has already passed through Rome and is now on his way to Santiago.

Reminded me of Phillipe. French man I met in the Po valley. Usually resident in Canada. Phillipe had flown to Santiago. Walked from there to Rome. Then to Assisi. When I met him he was on his way north to visit family in Strasbourg before flying back to Canada. Made my walk from Canterbury feel like a stroll down to the supermarket for some milk!

 

[MinaKamina]

Seemed fairly clear to me - the gentleman started walking in Jerusalem, has already passed through Rome and is now on his way to Santiago.

Reminded me of Phillipe. French man I met in the Po valley. Usually resident in Canada. Phillipe had flown to Santiago. Walked from there to Rome. Then to Assisi. When I met him he was on his way north to visit family in Strasbourg before flying back to Canada. Made my walk from Canterbury feel like a stroll down to the supermarket for some milk!

Ach.. I see. The first part of the post must have confused me:

only occasionally have encountered a fellow walker, going in the same direction since there are "so" many routes one can walk to Rome.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

@Bradypus - I felt the same. I was almost embarrassed to tell him I was "just" walking to Rome. (LOL!)