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From Cluny to Avignon – 750km in the footsteps of monks, pilgrims and popes.
Sur le pont d’Avignon,On y danse, on y danse,Sur le pont d’Avignon,On y danse tous en rond. Traditional French children’s song Ready to set off on another pilgrimage across France Spring has arrived (somewhat soggily and belatedly) in the south west of France. Training, in the guise of twice daily walks with Puzzle. our working…
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LEJOG – planning the route
It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. George Mallory Deciding to walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats is simple. Working out how to do it, is a bit more difficult. There is probably an optimal LEJOG equation involving the following variables: 1) D = days/ time available 2) B = budget for accommodation…
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Life begins at 60 – LEJOG 2024
If one keeps on walking, everything will be alright. Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard When you turn 60 (in my case on 7 Nov 2023, ie today!) you are allowed a day of unashamed self indulgence! Getting up late; having a lunch time drink; not doing any gardening and dreaming up new challenges for the next…
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The way of Arles – Via Tolosana – GR653
I was nineteen years old, still soft at the edges, but with a confident belief in good fortune. I carried a small rolled-up tent, a violin in a blanket, a change of clothes, a tin of treacle biscuits, and some cheese As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning – Laurie Lee With the wild flower…
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Day 1: Arles to Vauvert (40 km) Sharing the company of strangers.
We are all pilgrims in search of the unknown. Paul Coelho The train journey from Montauban to Arles ( my point of departurr for Chemin d’Arles) didn’y get off to the best of starts. It was only when the doors closed of the train which pulled out of platform 1 at 14.10 that I realised…
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Day 2: Vauvert to St Christol (26km) Dare to dream
Le plus grand échec est de ne pas avoir le courage d’oser. L’abbé Pierre As I was on the point of leaving Bea’s Gite, I couldn’t help noticing the blackboard prominently positioned in the corridor. Guests were welcomed with the quote – dare to dream! Don’t live your life with regrets. Carpe diem. Bea laid…
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Day 3: Saint Christol to Grabels (40km) Every cloud has a silver lining.
It is always hard to see the purpose in wilderness wanderings until after they are over. Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan Today’s walk from Saint Christol to Grabels – 10 hours walking, most of it on tarmac and through a concrete jungle that comprises Montpellier and its suburbs. Throw in a wrong turning which added…
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Day 4: Grabels to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (33km) Dormitory life.
It was a real pleasure to enjoy Jean Marie’s company in his home in Grabels and I was sorry to say goodbye to him and head off on my way to Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert. Just after leaving Grabels I came across a strange site – a huge enclosure containing thousands of solar panels. A couple of goats…
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Day 5: Saint-Guilhem-le-désert to Lodève (36 km) When the heavens opened!
Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout Till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! Shakespeare – King Lear The night in the dormitory with 5 other people proved surprisingly peaceful. Nobody snored or went to the loo in the middle of the night. I gathered my stuff…
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Day 6: Lodève to Saint-Martin-d’Orb (26km) Peasouper.
[Staring at the fog through his window] It’s a real pea souper! The Return of Sherlock Holmes – Conan Doyle This was a day best forgotten, when there was little to be seen due to the abysmal weather! For most of the day it hacked down with rain and visibility was little more than twenty…
Welcome to my blog! I’m Jonathan, a 60 year old Brit who is passionate about long distance walking.
In May 2024 I’m setting off from Land’s End to walk 1,200 miles, the length of Britain, to John O’Groats.
Join me on this adventure as I provide daily blog updates of my LEJOG walk.
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Pilgrim's Progress - Long Distance Walks in Europe and the UK 