OMG I can't believe how lucky I am

This via Francigena which I will be cycling later next week was original documented by the bishop Sigeric, who journey from Canterbury to Rome (via France/Switzerland over the St. Bernard pass) a thousand years ago. My journey is shorter and mainly from Rosalinda's house (a dear fellow pilgrim whom I had met on my Camino de Santiago in 2006) in Milan to Rome.

Tha would be 787 km instead of the 1900 km from Canterbury. I am so happy and honoured to be able to start from her house (or her albergue de peregrinos as she calls it).

When Rosalinda found out that I would need to get 2 things when I get to Milan, she went ahead and got me those ahead of time without my asking. The bike (with rear rack and bottle cage) and local SIM card is there waiting for me. I really owed her a lot, especially the effort on her part to get them. You are an angel Rosalinda!

 

Yes, it's the same budget MTB from Decathlon that I have already have here in Singapore (so no learning curve) which I plan to sell (or donate) upon my arrival in Rome. It's much easier for logistics than to bring one's bike on the plane and also cheaper than rentals.

Now all I need to do is to get off my a** and start packing. I keep forgetting that it's  different than packing for a walk.

My Camino del Norte - Video

Finally the video of my Camino del Norte in May is ready. It's basically a photo progression of my whole journey from Irun to Santiago de Compostela and then onwards to Muxia and Fisterra. Over 900 km in 36 days.

I didn't want to use any commercial music for the video only to have YouTube warn me a week later to take it music out due to copyright infringement. This time, I have something better, my own brother Victor who composes music for a living (thanks bro!).

I guess he is constrained by the video which has a picture transition every second, but the final results are fantastic. Together with Dharma from the band The Observatory (where Victor is an ex-member) I now have a great professional soundtrack for this video.

After three Camino de Santiago pilgrimages, this fourth Camino is more like an escape. Just an unadulterated descent to a simple life of walking, sleeping, eating (drinking) and washing (laundry).

You can change the quality of this video's playback to HD for better picture quality. I've also upload the same video to Vimeo.

Enjoy.

Backpack differences on the Camino

A big thanks to Francis for these photos. I believe this was taken after Miraz, a cold morning. We took our jackets off only after about 2 hours of walking.

You can see that both backpacks are on 2 opposite ends. Jonathan's backpack is 17 kg, with a 2 person tent, cooker, and that giant umbrella while mine is more of the norm at half that weight.

Carrying that much weight one risks injury especially on a long journey. I guess the age (younger) helps. :)

Meeting of pilgrims - 2 years later

 

We have now another member, my wife. Here's the picture taken 2 years ago.

Now it's my wife's turn to walk the Camino

Just left on her 2nd leg of the Camino Frances this evening. She will be walking from Burgos to Astorga (or Ponferrada). Her 1st leg was this spring from St. Jean to Burgos.

Garmin gps preloaded with the Caminos de Santiago data

With this, you will always know when you deviate away from the path. (via Ivar)

Sharing the experience of the Camino

I received this in my mailbox (no, not the electronic one, the real one) today. Manfred, a German pilgrim whom I had met and walked together for more than half of Camino Via de la Plata in 2008 had sent this to me.

It is a copy of his pilgrim credentials and a DVD of his walk of the Camino del Norte in the summer of 2010.

I have been out action on the Camino since, but the way still beckons me, especially when the Camino del Norte is the final Camino I planned to walk in Spain.

I need find the time and opportunity, not so easy when you still have to hold down a job. When? 2011? 2012? No later than that....

Thanks Manfred, for sharing your Camino with me. While watching the video, it is as if I am also there (in spirit). No one appreciates the video more than another pilgrim. There is something about the Camino that cuts through people of all culture, language and age.

Be careful in choosing the appropriate backpack for the Camino

The Way - Movie Trailer

The trailer for The Way (Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez) is out. The movie is currently in post production. No release date have been given yet. Very soon, one of the best kept secret will be out in the mainstream.


It's making me want to drop everything and walk again.

Yet Another Meeting With Pilgrims

Chris (will be on his way to his camino later in spring), Rebecca, Richard and Denise. We are missing Charmaine, Adrian and Tracy. Still, this is the biggest group of Camino de Santiago peregrinos here in Singapore that I have seen .... so far.

A Meeting of Pilgrims - Bénédicte

Over the year end, I had the privilege of spending an evening with a dear peregrina Bénédicte and her family near Pontarlier after our vacation around the French Auvergne region. Wow, has it already been three and a half years?

I just saw Martin Sheen!!!

Link

Martin Sheen and son Emilio Esteves spotted in the camino. Apparently they were there shooting a movie about the camino. Seems like the camino is going mainstream. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Congratulations To Adrian And Tracy

Congratulations to Tracy (left) and Adrian (right) both from Singapore who had completed their Camino de Santiago in April 2008.

Photos Of Camino Primitivo

Can't believe that I have procrastinated for almost a year before having the photos published.

Link

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