Loxwood to Le Puy En Velay

There was me thinking I am a walking legend taking on my third Camino in succession , until I read about Geoff who I met on last years Camino, I have been upstaged yet again, the Welch demon set off yesterday to walk from Canterbury to Rome,  I am not worthy, good luck Geoff and Buen Camino.

I am honoured this year to walk on behalf of The ABF The Soldiers Charity,  who do so much to help serving  and ex serving soldiers and their families who might need help. A huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, I cannot believe we have raised £4250 plus gift aid so far.

I have now just got to earn it on your behalf , so with that in mind , I left home this morning at 0530 bound for Le Puy, Barney who is joining me for the first three days picked me up from home to take us to the airport and we arrived in Lyon at 1100 hrs, we were met by the lovely Caroline in her Jaguar who drove us the 120 miles to Le Puy. I hope you did not expect me to walk !!

The last two Camino's I have walked, for some reason, I have managed to gain 5lbs on each one, despite walking over a 1000 miles, probably due to a diet of custard tarts wine beer pastries and goodness knows what else, so this year I am hell bent on shedding a few pounds. 

It's catching.

Not the best of starts I will grant you !!! Barney's influence I suspect.

We decided to find where the cathedral is , as with all Camino's they start at a cathedral. I lit a candle for what I suspect was selfish reasons as I know what is coming my way over the next 30 days. We have been told there is a pilgrims mass at 0700 tomorrow which we will attend so we can meet other pilgrims as they start their journey.

This years walk is not marked with scallops but just plain old markers.

Meaning straight on.

Turn right and left if pointing the other way.

Do not go this way !!

It was nice to see some familiar signs albeit a bit daunting.

For those not familiar with my blogs over the past years, I  have always done a daily 'dog on a blog'. I suspect the dogs have become a more popular feature than me, so here is today's .

The girls at the office have tasked me with a 'donkey on a blog', I will do my best girls.

It was time for a bit of rubber necking before our evening meal.

Soon time for dinner, I liked my salad but was not too keen on Barney's sausage!!!

It is now 2200hrs and time to think about bed as we are up at 0620, please see below the profile of tomorrow's walk, going from left to right.

19 miles  to cover after mass.