Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[Barbara]

Dalie has had enough munging about in a field for this year, so we are setting out from home to join the Vezelay route next week. I reckon to walk along the Gartempe to Bellac, then cross country to La Souterraine, using local footpaths up to La Souterraine. Then we will get as far as we can until I am needed at home
Does anyone know how donkey friendly the Vezelay route is? Along the river should be fine as far as Bellac, we will be camping as usual, and I have the Chassain guide to the historic route, which has good maps even if it seems a little light on details of accomodation.

[WolverineDG]

I have no idea how donkey friendly the route is, but I want to say "Hooray!" because now we'll get more Donkey on the Camino stories!! I hope you & Dalie have a great trip & lots of wonderful adventures.

Kelly

[sillydoll]

Barbara - I wonder if the horse pilgrim websites can't help you?

http://www.elcaminoacaballo.com On this site there are pictures of a few guys with donkeys. Maybe they can give you some advice? http://www.chemindecompostelle.com./Nou ... acter.html

Good luck with Dalie.

[Bridget and Peter]

How exciting to hear of someone else planning to do the Vezelay route. We will be setting off later in September, so following behind you on bicycles, and intending to camp quite a bit, so, if your stories are anything to go by, I'll expect to hear accounts of Dalie and yourself!

Are you walking cross country or travelling by car/horse box to Vezelay? How fast will you travel? will you still be travelling at the end of September? I doubt we will catch you up before our three weeks are up - we are not like the cyclists we met in Dinant last year who expected to be in Santiago in three weeks!

buen camino!

[Bridget and Peter]

I have the Chassain guide to the historic route, which has good maps even if it seems a little light on details of accomodation.

I woke up thinking about this! If you read through the details of the route (on the coloured sheets which go with the maps) there are details of all sorts of accommodation in every town and village you go through - including camp sites, pilgrim refuges privee and municipal, and people in a pilgrim hospitality system - as well as tourist information offices - all with phone numbers. So you should be able to do plenty of advance investigation about donkey-friendly possibilities.

M and Mme Chassain seem to have covered almost every detail a pilgrim could want to know!

[Barbara]

Hi all!

Sil, thanks for those links. Bridget and Peter, you are right about the accomodation on the looseleaf sheets, it's just I am used to the Miam Miam Dodo, which says if places are horse friendly I found the looseleafs after I had posted and yes, there is a lot of stuff there.
As to my route, I am using the Vezelay route but not starting at Vezelay, which is well north and east of where I live, but joining the route at La Souterraine, part way along. So I am taking an oblique track on foot to join part way. I could of course use the Tours route, I actually live on the easterly variant of this that goes through Angouleme, but I like the idea of going my own way for a while, and starting from my font door, without repeating the part from Bordeaux which I have already used. I only have three weeks this year so probably won't see you. Still, who knows. I don't ever plan too much ahead, as I have a tent, and anyway, travelling with a donkey can lead to some interesting détours and throw schedules out of the window. Thanks to all, and no doubt Dalie will bray her messages to you. Did I ever tell you about Dalie and the flight of stairs up to the costal track?

[WolverineDG]

No! Do tell!

Buen Camino, Barbara & Dalie!

Kelly

[Barbara]

Well, we only got to walk for a week, as after trying to let our house for ages finally someone is interested, so I have to shift furniture. We had a great time though, from near home (St Savin) to Le Dorat, including some very hot weather, a mega storm to end it, and camping in people's back gardens and fields. I will be off again towards the end of the month, so will keep you posted.
Now, Dalie and the flight of steps.....
On the Camino del Norte there is some lovely walking, and some horrible roads. This was a little different, a costal path with splendid views. Only snag, a staircase to get to it! Now I didn't actually realise such was the case, so set out in the morning as per usual, following the for once visible waymarking. Which after a bit pointed straight UP. Seventy five steps, a bit wider than a house staircase and a bit shallower in height. Usual sort of space to put the feet. No handrail, so I reconed if push came to shove we could escape to the side and struggle up through the trees. So, quick word to St James and I ask Dalie what she thinks to it. She takes a look and with a little persuasion (sugar lumps) makes a start. Does about ten steps and says "what about another sugar lump?"
Seems reasonable, so out comes the emergency donkey fuel bag and off we go again. Ten more steps and we meet some people coming down the steps. Dalie gets cuddled and admired, decides she wants to follow them down. Is dissuaded by forcible speech and yanks on headcollar. More sugar lumps.
Half way up she wants a rest. We escape to side and are nearly mown down by a mountain bike weaving through the close planted trees......

After a lot more of this sort of thing we reach the top. The next ten people we meet ask us how we got up there......

[WolverineDG]

"emergency donkey food" LOL!! Thanks for the update, Barbara!

Kelly