Camino Stage 4: Day 8 –  Paris to Southwell

Give us today our daily bread The unwinding of this stage of this Camino reached its culmination today. The final part of the journey was very simple. Paris to London: London to Southwell Guy Turner kindly collected me from Newark, and BT 14:00 I was walking into 47 Easthorpe. I was so tired, so I …

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Camino Stage 4: Day 7- Bayonne to Paris

Church of the Holy Spirit, Bayonne I let myself sleep in after a weird, broken night. Got up, packed up and went out to find breakfast. Then visited the Church of the Holy Spirit, and said prayers there. Unusual dedication, a 12C church with later bits, including fine vaulting above the sanctuary. But my favourite …

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Camino Stage 4: Day 6 – Langon Hospital to Bayonne

There are many things about the French Health Service that are admirable. At the level of emergency departments they act fast. Their triaging is much better than ours. They are less stuffy, and doctors, nurses and para-medics are all much nearer to the patients, and they all pitch in. If you have a question that …

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Camino Stage 4: Day 5 – Abbaye de Rivet to Langon Hospital

The church of St Germain Monastery life starts at 04.30 with a vigil. I didn't make that, but got up early, packed up and was at breakfast at 07.00. There I saw a rare and beautiful thing - Kettles. Which meant a proper cup of tea (even with the accursed Lipton's teabag) for breakfast. I …

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Camino Stage 4: Day 4 – La Réole to Abbaye de Rivet

The old bridge at Pondaurat Up quite early, and after breakfast, and a picnic Nicole insisted on making up for me, I was off by 8am. My feet were feeling better, and appreciated walking in some soft flat shoes I have with me. But they are only good for road walking, so after 4k, I …

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Camino Stage 4: Day 3 – Saint Ferme to La Réole

La Réole "Listen to your body", they said. Everyone says it. "Listen to your body." The people at pain management say it, so does my doctor, so does my osteopath (the excellent James), and so does Vladimir the scary body-building Moldovan sports masseur, who looks like a dwarf from the Lord of the Rings who …

Continue reading Camino Stage 4: Day 3 – Saint Ferme to La Réole