Blackheath Wellings Chummy jellied eel Red House, home to Willian Morris, designed byJames Gibbs Crayford Dartford Saint Mary's Church, Stone Gravesend 31.4km
Walking to Rome: Day Two on the Chaucer Way
Walking to Rome: Day One on the Chaucer Way
Not the Via Francigena to Rome. Not yet. That begins in Canterbury. Today is the first day of the Chaucer Way, which will take us from central London to Canterbury. It's a modest 17 kilometer day, taking us from Westminster Abbey to Southwark Cathedral—the historic start for a pilgrimage to Canterbury—to Greenwich and to our... Continue Reading →
Walking to Rome: Another Day in London
Tomorrow Gail and I will make our way on foot from the Christian heart of London, Westminster Abbey, to Canterbury, a journey of some 120 kilometers over six days. We will roughly follow the trail pilgrims have followed for centuries. A trail colorfully described in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. A trail that, these days, is aptly... Continue Reading →
Walking to Rome: First Day in London
Our first day in London is a jet lag recovery day. How we deal with this time traveller's malady is to hit the ground running. Or, in our case, walking. We arrive early morning at Heathrow, headed into town, deposit our bags at our refuge for the next two nights, Thanet Hotel near Russell Square... Continue Reading →
Walking to Rome: Winnipeg
It starts in Canterbury. Gail and I will leave its cathedral, head south, cross the English Channel, traverse France, climb Switzerland's Great Saint Bernard Pass, continue south through Italy and finally arrive on the doorstep of the Vatican. This is the ancient pilgrimage route known as the Via Francigena, a path roughly following Sigeric, Archbishop... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in AndalucÃa: Day 28
Tarifa A day-long beach walk On the Atlantic coast On fine white sand Across ocean-carved stone coves With a hard wind at our backs Pushing us To Bolonia To the Roman city, Baelo Claudio To the end of our Andalusian trek To our next long walk 29/05/19 20.8km/56m ascent/55m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in AndalucÃa: Day 27
El Pelayo Down a stream Down a country trail To the Mediterranean (once again, after 19 days walking) Weaving along the coastline Dipping down to beach coves Climbing (slightly) to headlands Passing gun emplacements from past wars Following old drovers' paths To Tarif Where Atlantic meets Mediterranean Where Romans, Moors, Christians fought Where fishers, wind... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in AndalucÃa: We Have Arrived!
My postings have fallen behind schedule. But they will come soon! In the meantime, a quick report is in order. Today, Gail and I arrived in Bolonia, the final destination in our Andalucian Coast to Coast walk. After 21 days walking, covering 444 kilometers and many thousands of meters climbing and descending (and occasionally falling),... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in AndalucÃa: Day 26
Los Barrios Gently up Forest Roads Cork oak forests Mountain vistas Gibraltar Morocco! A leisurely climb Then... One last kilometre Down through bramble, thicket All things prickly Down unmarked slopes Lost, scratched, bloodied Then, finally... El Pelayo 28/05/19 25.5km/575m ascent/350m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in AndalucÃa: Day 25
Castillo de Castellar Hard to leave But... Down La Calzada (a Roman road) Level paths, dirt roads, paved highways To Venta Juan Carlos (a rare restaurant meal at lunchtime) Gently up quiet roads (Gibraltar is so close) Steeply down trails To Los Barrios 26/05/19 26.9km/379m ascent/620m descent