What am I doing here in Le Puy?

Before I left Australia on my Camino adventure I got asked the same two questions: ‘Why do you want to walk the Camino?’, and ‘Why are you staring in Le Puy?’

The answer to both questions is the same. A few years back, I read a novel in which two people walked seperate journeys along the Camino. After I read that book, I was pretty sure that the Camino was in my future. In the novel, the characters started walking from Cluny which is about 200km from Le Puy, the starting point I’ve chosen. I would have liked to walk from Cluny, but it’s hard to get to and the path isn’t well documented. Through my research I found that Le Puy is a popular starting point for Camino Pilgrims, the transport to get here is easy and there’s a pilgrim office to get you started. So the main reason for my starting point here in Le Puy is simplicity.

I left Australia 2 weeks ago and I’ve spent that time with my dear friends in Japan and London. I’m sad to have said goodbye to them and I’m sorry to be heading out on my own now. I miss all of them as well as my friends back home. I’m also feeling terrified and wondering why on earth I thought it was a good idea to leave my great job and my lovely home to try to walk across 2 countries. But I’m also excited to see what the next few months has in store.

If I’m successful in completing my Camino I’ll walk around 1500km to Santiago de Compostela. Sitting here in Le Puy that distance is unimaginable. But I’m aware that all I have to do is get up tomorrow and walk the first part of my journey. I would like to walk to Santiago, but I’m aware that not all journeys work out and I’m ok with changing my mind if mine doesn’t.

When Pilgrims meet along The Way they take a moment to wish each other well with a ‘Bon Chemin’ in France or a ‘Bon Camino’ in Spain. If you’re reading along with me please take a moment to send me your best wishes. Let’s see how I go.