Yes! From home to SdC starting this april!

[Thomas1962]

Wow!!!!!!! I still hard to believe.
Now it is official, I can take an unpaid leave for 7 months from next month (april) on, which makes it more then possible to walk from my Amsterdam doorstep to SdC!

For such a long time it is my deepest wish to do this. It made it such a relief to shake my managers hand when we agreed on this. When I walked outside again, it was like the world looked different, I saw new colours, (which was quit special as being half colourblind ) and felt every breeze of wind again. It was so great!
Strange enough the next moment also fear started: now I HAVE to do this, I CAN'T go back, , it will not be what I dreamed of.... But one hour later it was gone again. Now I can see that was part of the whole proces I go through. Since then I feel great and am just happy. My body is at home now, my head left already.

Since my first camino in 2010 this was the thing I wanted to do. But because the kind of job I have which I just started before, it was hard to realize. Since then I walked for 4 weeks in my holidays on different camino's or hikes, still dreaming about walking from home.
This year I felt I was standing on a crossroad in which I had to take this direction. No prolonging any more, even if it meant that I had to quit my job. I nearly had to quit, but at the last moment my manager agreed on unpaid leave. I can go back, if I really still want to...

So now I'm planning what route to take from Amsterdam. Probably it will be Amsterdam - Utrecht - Vessem - Namur - Vezelay and from there the historical road to SJPdP. After that the Frances, a camino I still didn't do. I hope to start half of april. Just need some new shoes and to buy a ticket.... O no, no ticket!

 

[SYates]

Very happy for you! It truly is the experience of a life time! I took a different route as I started far more east than you but if there is anything I can do to help, just ask! Buen Camino! SY

 

[Deleted member 22638]

What amazing trips you both have done (SYates) and are now planning Thomas

Inspirational!

 

[Al the optimist]

Envy is a sin? I'm being sinful right now then! Have a great time.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hy Thomas , my did the camino from Sjpdp in 2013 , I do it this year and in about 3 years I will also do it from my house in Zwijndrecht ( the Netherlands ).And for now I wish you a great journey and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[domigee]

Fabulous! What a fantastic journey you're going to have. I left from my doorstep too last year and there's nothing like it!
Enjoy your camino.

 

[rometimed]

Awesome! Good planning and Buen Camino!

 

[grayland]

For those who have..or will..walk from home, what are the distances involved.
Like Al. I am very envious, but happy for you all.

 

[SYates]

For those who have..or will..walk from home, what are the distances involved. ...

In my case I estimated it at 3,000+ kilometers, jokingly referring to it as 3,333km. Took my oldish bones nearly 6 months to walk it, close to best thing I have ever done with my life! SY

 

[grayland]

Sy...that is about double the distance from LePuy to Santiago. I recall that as being about 1600km.

 

[SYates]

Sy...that is about double the distance from LePuy to Santiago. I recall that as being about 1600km.

Yup, Prague is a few km away from Le Puy ... SY

 

[Thomas1962]

Thanks all! Sorry to make you all envious. Just think about all the hard times I will have. Somewhere lost in France, no shops no bed, having the feeling to be all alone in the world....
I thinks it is about 2800 km from Amsterdam. Indeed, I also counted le Puy being about half way.
The nice thing for me is that it doesn't matter how far it is. Who cares, time enough. Will see how long it takes!

 

[domigee]

For those who have..or will..walk from home, what are the distances involved.

In my case roughly 4,500 km, to Jerusalem. Took 5 months . Worth every minute of it

 

[domigee]

Thanks all! Sorry to make you all envious. Just think about all the hard times I will have. Somewhere lost in France, no shops no bed, having the feeling to be all alone in the world....

Nah, I'm still envious!

(PS I have just discovered the smileys so putting them everywhere! Sorry, it'll pass...)

 

[SabsP]

Hi Thomas,
If you will walk from Vessem to Namur and use the Via Brabantica you will practically pass my house. Always here through pm if you want assistance / place for the night when in neighbourhood.

Veel plezier bij de voorbereiding.
Sabine

 

[rometimed]

In my case roughly 4,500 km, to Jerusalem. Took 5 months . Worth every minute of it

Awesome. <3

 

[SYates]

Thanks all! Sorry to make you all envious. Just think about all the hard times I will have. Somewhere lost in France, no shops no bed, having the feeling to be all alone in the world....
I thinks it is about 2800 km from Amsterdam. Indeed, I also counted le Puy being about half way.
The nice thing for me is that it doesn't matter how far it is. Who cares, time enough. Will see how long it takes!

Nops, you will be found in France, shops and beds will appear when ever you need them, the Camino will provide for what you truly need, but not always for what you think you need. Enjoy this pilgrimage of miracles, and, again, if I can do anything to help, just shoot me a message! Buen Camino! SY

 

[Thomas1962]

In my case roughly 4,500 km, to Jerusalem. Took 5 months . Worth every minute of it

Sounds very interesting too domigee! Who knows a next plan. Just curious what your route was, and your speed. Looks like the political situation through any landroute is not 'optimal' to walk through.
5 months only for 4500kms is also quit challinging. Look like you did 40+kms a day quit easy.

Your time for your next camino will come soon?
Just try to make people less envious. Just know how it feels...

 

[Thomas1962]

Nops, you will be found in France, shops and beds will appear when ever you need them, the Camino will provide for what you truly need, but not always for what you think you need. Enjoy this pilgrimage of miracles, and, again, if I can do anything to help, just shoot me a message! Buen Camino! SY

I'm indeed so exited and already gratefull. Thanks for your offer SY! I'll get in contact later.

 

[domigee]

Hi Thomas1962, the route was through Canterbury, Northern France across to Besançon, Switzerland, South Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, a ferry to Northern Cyprus and from Southern Cyprus a flight to Tel-Aviv. As youknow, going through Syria wasn't an option and no ship agreed to take us to Israel.
The plan was for 6 months but we cheated in Turkey: high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara and then to Konya and a bus journey to the South coast. Why? Because we couldn't book accommodation along our planned route (which was across Anatolia) that didn't entail a 58 or 60 km walk. Even if I could have walked that distance (which I doubt), there were just not enough daylight hours to do it in.
I know our walking speed (lol): 5km/ hr including breaks. There were times we walked 45 km + , the longest day was 51 but there were also much shorter walks.
I'm now planning the Via de la Plata and would love to be able to just walk out of my front door again just as you'll be doing.
I' m very happy for you and wish you a great journey

 

[SYates]

I'm indeed so exited and already gratefull. Thanks for your offer SY! I'll get in contact later.

I will be on pilgrimage myself in April, so either contact me soon or whilst you are on the road! Buen Camino! SY

 

[hampshire!tim]

Now it is official, I can take an unpaid leave for 7 months from next month (april) on, which makes it more then possible to walk from my Amsterdam doorstep to SdC!

Congratulations Thomas. I am so happy for you.

It is also my dream to walk from home in England, and one day it will happen when I am free of my commitments and can truly enjoy that freedom. Until then, please let us all know how your plans and your journey develop - it will give us all so much hope for ourselves !

Buen Camino !

 

[rometimed]

Hi Thomas1962, the route was through Canterbury, Northern France across to Besançon, Switzerland, South Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, a ferry to Northern Cyprus and from Southern Cyprus a flight to Tel-Aviv. As youknow, going through Syria wasn't an option and no ship agreed to take us to Israel.
The plan was for 6 months but we cheated in Turkey: high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara and then to Konya and a bus journey to the South coast. Why? Because we couldn't book accommodation along our planned route (which was across Anatolia) that didn't entail a 58 or 60 km walk. Even if I could have walked that distance (which I doubt), there were just not enough daylight hours to do it in.
I know our walking speed (lol): 5km/ hr including breaks. There were times we walked 45 km + , the longest day was 51 but there were also much shorter walks.
I'm now planning the Via de la Plata and would love to be able to just walk out of my front door again just as you'll be doing.
I' m very happy for you and wish you a great journey

Domigee did you walk the Canterbury route from Rochester to Canterbury? Just wondering because I might walk that this summer.

 

[domigee]

Yes I did. How exciting! If you have any questions or anything, ask away and I'll do my best to answer

 

[rometimed]

Yes I did. How exciting! If you have any questions or anything, ask away and I'll do my best to answer

I haven't done much reading on the actual route so I was just wondering if it's rural or city walking? I wasn't sure I just left some days open for it. Thank you

 

[domigee]

It's mostly rural after Rochester. The road follows the old 'Saxon Shore Way'. I sort of followed a guide book 'London to Canterbury' by john Merrill. Briefly, my first stop after home was Aylesford Priory , then Gillingham (passing through Rochester), then Faversham (stayed in a fab B&b), then Canterbury (youth Hostal). From there you follow the North Downs Way to Dover. It was pouring down and I lost my way - also avoiding fields with cows/bulls, you name it - so ended up following the main road. No fun but it got me there on time for the ferry

 

[Luka]

There you are! Sorry I had to leave so suddenly after we met briefly at the venue in Amsterdam. I enjoyed two inspiring and entertaining camino stories and am even looking more forward to my own journey now. I am happy for you that you have found your way too. And now you are leaving even before me!

 

[Thomas1962]

There you are! Sorry I had to leave so suddenly after we met briefly at the venue in Amsterdam. I enjoyed two inspiring and entertaining camino stories and am even looking more forward to my own journey now. I am happy for you that you have found your way too. And now you are leaving even before me!

Inspiring camino stories indeed! (at the Jacobs meeting in Amsterdam there were 2 people telling about there camino from home in the Netherlands to SdC), Pitty you had to leave. Maybe meet you there on next meeting. When will you leave?

 

[Luka]

Inspiring camino stories indeed! (at the Jacobs meeting in Amsterdam there were 2 people telling about there camino from home in the Netherlands to SdC), Pitty you had to leave. Maybe meet you there on next meeting. When will you leave?

I'll catch a train to Paray-le-Monial on the 3rd of May. Won't be in Amersfoort next Saturday, because I planned two days of training on the island of Texel