Our friend Geoffrey tells us what to expect

[gerardcarey]

Befell that in that season on a day .............. It happened
In St Jean at the Aubergue as I lay .............. Southwark/The Tabard Inn
Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage ............. to go
To Santiago with full devout couráge, .......... Canterbury/spirit, heart
At night was come into that hostel ............. hostelry
Well nine and twenty in a company ............. fully 29
Of sundry folk by áventure y-fall .................. by chance fallen
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all ........ Into company
That toward Santiago woulden ride ............. Canterbury/wished to
The chambers and the stables weren wide ..... were roomy
And well we weren easèd at the best ........... catered for
And shortly, when the sunnè was to rest,
So had I spoken with them every one
That I was of their fellowship anon,
And madè forward early for to rise ............... made agreement
To take our way there as I you devise ........... I shall to you recount

The replacement of a few words (italics) in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Prologue to The Canterbury Tales' reveals the comforting information that little appears to have changed in 600 years regarding the intent and spirit of pilgrims as they gather at the start of their journey.
Devout, courage, sundry folk, adventure, fellowship. The words leap off the page as I recall the folk I met in St Jean and along 'The Way'.

Regards
Gerard

PS
To those interested, or who have had difficulty in reading/understanding 'The Canterbury Tales' may I enthusiastically recommend Michael Murphy's reader-friendly on-line edition. Start at the 'General Prologue' in which Geoffrey gives us a wonderful description of his Pilgrims, their dress, manners, morals, virtues and foibles.
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/webco ... anterbury/

 

[sillydoll]

And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; Three times she'd travelled to Santiago;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem; And passed many a foreign stream;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, At Rome she'd been, and in Lourdes
In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne. In Galicia at Santiago, and at Finisterre
She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. She could tell much of wandering by the way

 

[fortview]

Lovely !
Remember you well
Hope all good with you in sunny Oz.
Helen

 

[gerardcarey]

Lovely !
Remember you well
Hope all good with you in sunny Oz.
Helen

Brisbane in the summer is a bit hot for me mate so I headed off to Kiwiland in Jan and just back.
Didn't we just have a good time! Hope all is well with you both,
Gerard