We started in France in the heat and some very high hills to climb. We thought we had trained for hills but guess we thought wrong. The next few weeks walking was much cooler and a change of clothes and flatter walking but parts were extremely dangerous in spots with very narrow paths falling away to the ravines, large fallen trees across the paths which we had to climb over, green fields that were fenced in with electric fences and which had us climbing under the fences so we could proceed. This section of the walk took us out of our comfort zones many times. Times I could have said "NO more I want to go home".
As we entered Switzerland we walked to the symphony of the cows and sheep munching on the hillsides, we saw the steep hills approaching and knew we would be climbing them soon. Could we do it, other people had and some much older than us. We saw the snow on the high caps of these mountains and it looked cold. On our free day we caught a Mont Blanc train back to France and it was cold, -4 degrees and snow and ice and lots of fog. We could not see much except snow and ice but we enjoyed the day.
The steep rocky hills kept getting closer and the days walking became harder and more exhausting. The closer the hills, the closer to the end of the walk for this section of the Via Francigena and closer to Italy, the border where we would finish this walk. The days became hotter again or was it the climb? The walk up St Bernard Pass was hard, rocky, exhausting and possibly a little sad as it meant the finish. We were close to tears of joy when we stood in front of the hostel/hotel, the steep rocky hills surrounding us and the sign that said we had climbed 2473metres. In the beginning we thought we had trained enough and were prepared for this climb but after walking and climbing little steep hills for four weeks we knew we were ready to climb the big one. A quick trip over the border into Italy and some well deserved R & R days in Switzerland.
Switzerland is a lovely nation, a nation of people who appear happy and content, bikes, quiet cars and even quieter and faster trains which can be a little scary at times. It took us the five weeks to become accustomed to the cars and walking on the opposite side of the road, especially when we had to cross the busy road. We met some lovely people and managed the different languages - sign language and the basic school French and German came in handy. Most people in France and Switzerland speak a little English, some speak English as if they were never born overseas. We found Switzerland an expensive country to live in but we went reasonably prepared. Well sort of!!
The Cancer site is still up and running and will not be closed until early December. Sue and I promised to try and raise $2000 for Cancer Queensland and we are nearly there.
https://give.everydayhero.com/au/walking-the-via-francigena-to-italy
Where is the next walk? I have been trying to decide and it looks like the John Muir Way in Scotland in October 2020. This is only a small walk of 215klms starting at Helensburgh and finishing in Dunbar. I may tack on a further small walk in England or Ireland but these decisions will be made over the next few months. Lots more training and decisions in the next few months.
Will I write and publish the walking diary? Yes I will but not sure when.
I would like to thank Sue for keeping me on track and her exceptional organisation, Carol Neville (Via Francigena Tours) for helping us with the walk and accommodation, her husband Paul for being our Sherpa and having our main bags at the accommodation each evening and for their friendship while overseas. I WILL return to finish this pilgrimage to St Peters in Rome.
