Jerard and Enda have been married for 33 years. They have two daughters and a grand daughter . They enjoy the great outdoors and are keen bushwalkers. In 2016 they completed the Camino Frances. Read below to learn why they decided to undertake a
second Camino pilgrimage .
Jerard:
Last year we completed the Camino Frances. It starts in St Jean Pied de Port in France at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. It ends at the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela in the north west of Spain. Our initial experience in the Camino Frances started two years earlier when we first saw the journey as an interesting walk (albeit long), through picturesque and historical countryside. During our long preparation we learnt much more about the Camino so ulltimately it transformed our walk into 800km life changing Christian pilgrimage. For whatever efforts we put into the Camino we received immensely more in return. We both felt so blessed and fortunate in what we were given and continue to receive . During the past year we have been promoting Camino values , encouraging others who wish to know more about (or undertake) the ancient journey and in providing a brief local glimpse into what is involved for new pilgrims. Like so many others who have walked in ancient footsteps we decided to undertake another pilgrimage this year. We would like you to be pilgrims in spirit with us. Our dailly reports are written as you walk with us. We see and welcome your shadows alongside ours as we start fresh each morning. You will drink with us from cool waters at midday. As the day grows long and we weary, knowing your are there will give us strength to persist. Please journey with us. |
Enda:
Our first encounter eight years ago with the Camino was in Le Puy-en-Velay in France. Looking down the steps from the front door of the Cathedral we saw the start of a magnificent route that lead all the way to St James’s tomb. This sparked our interest, leading first to our 2016 pilgrimage, our involvement in local Camino groups, turning our mountain home into a pop up albergue and finally taking the decision to start a second pilgrimage. This time, starting from the point where we first encountered the Camino and ending where our 2016 pilgrimage commenced. This pilgrimage will probably be more challenging as our destination of St Jean will not be the shining beacon that Santiago and the tomb of St James were when we encountered difficult days and poor weather. Nevertheless it is a Camino pilgrimage with countless more disperse opportunities for meditation and prayer. However, the pilgrimage provides much fun and laughter, great opportunities for meeting fellow pilgrims, interacting with the local inhabitants, sampling local foods and cultures. We will mix with walkers whose motivations range from the sacred to the earthly . At the end of the 2016 Camino, many walkers with little or no religious affiliations reported to us their journey turned unexpectedly into a significant spiritual experience, Perhaps their first step ... |