Via di Francesco

Once the idea of a pilgrimage to Assisi was planted in my head – it wouldn’t shift. I invested in a guidebook and amongst the varied routes I could choose Florence to Assisi via La Verna was the one I kept coming back to.

How do you begin a journey? When you have the initial idea, when you begin preparations, when you start travelling or perhaps when you actually start walking?
I chose to begin at my home church, St Alban’s, Windy Nook.

Day 2 on the Via di Francesco The day began with final, final packing making sure I had everything I needed packed away in my trusty backpack. Of course there is always something like the realisation that I had left my glasses at church but that was ok – I have another pair. I walked…

Day 3 on the Via di Francesco It wasn’t the best night’s sleep, the bed was comfortable butmy brain was far too active. In the end I was up by 04:30. My first train wasn’t until 05:52 so I had time for Morning Prayer and my Community Obedience. It reminded me of days on the…

Day 4 on the Via di Francesco Today was a day to pause, prepare and relax. As I lay waking up I decided that all I ‘had’ to do that day was to go to the Basilica de Santa Croce, pray and get my credential stamped. The rest of the day was free. It was…

Day 5 on the Via di Francesco. I was out of the hostel round about 6 o’clock. I think I just wanted to leave Florence. Nice as it was it wasn’t where I wanted to be, I wanted to be on the trail. I got as far as a bench between the hostel and the…

Day 6 on the Via di Francesco This is the day which had loomed large in my thoughts as I planned my journey and it loomed just as large as I woke up that morning, One of the take aways from my Morning Prayer routine was from the Psalm – “I called to you and…

Day 7 on the Via di Francesco Today was a day spent almost entirely walking through forest. I was reminded of the idea of ‘Forest Bathing’; a definition being ” the practice of intentionally immersing oneself in a forest atmosphere using all five senses to reduce stress, improve mental health, and boost immunity. I am…

Day 8 on the Via di Francesco This was not a ‘Rest Day’ as I walked 12km but looking back this was one of the most wonderful experiences of my journey so far. It started out a bit flat to be honest with my morning prayer routine and what I thought was a careful pack-up….

Day 9 on the Via di Francesco I woke up and looked out of the window. It looked about the same as when I had arrived the day before, misty and raining. To compound it I read in one of the Psalms in Morning Prayer You visit the earth and water it,you make it very…

Day 10 on the Via di Francesco It may have been a short walk but it started with a steep climb. Maybe walking uphill matches my mood. I had received an email last night to tell me my train from Assisi on the way back was not running so I will need to get a…

Day 11 (Morning) on the Via di Francesco One of the American ladies was getting a lift to La Verna so over breakfast I arranged to walk with Mary. Without giving too much away we are of a similar age. Walking on my own is my default mode but this seemed a great opportunity to…

Day 11 (Afternoon & Evening) on the Via di Francesco I always felt that spending time at the Sanctuary of La Verna was going to be a pivotal moment in my journey. I am sure I have not yet worked it out but it was significant. My first task was to check-in which proved quite…

Day 12 on the Via di Francesco The.day started at something past 4am with the certainty of the overwhelming grace of God in his completed work of atonement in the Ascension and His continual work of intercession. I must have drifted off at some point as next time I was semi-conscious it was 5.30ish. I…

Day 13 on the Via di Francesco I started.today feeling much more positive. I had packed the night before and after a quick breakfast I was off. I walked down into town and it started raining. So I stopped put my wet weather gear on and after a while the rain stopped. My first decision…

Day 14 on the Via di Francesco The rain had stopped but there was water everywhere. I was up early, no one else was around and after my Morning Prayer I made my own breakfast and set off. I was feeling positive after yesterday. I soon realised that the water that fell yesterday was still…

Day 15 on the Via di San Francesco I had done some research the night before so I had worked out I could get breakfast and just across the road I could pick up snacks etc at a supermarket. It involved leaving the city on an old route which had now been superceded. Guess where…

Day 16 on the Via di Francesco The goal for today was not just to get to my destination but to get some new walking poles. My route should have been nearly 20km today, up a d down several mountains and into beautiful valleys. I did the first few ups and downs which as always…

Day 17 on the Via di Francesco Sometimes odd prayers pop into my mind. One such is from Common Worship, can’t remember which Psalm it belongs to. Lord God, just and true,you make your salvation known in the sight of the nations;tune the song of our hearts to the music of creationas you come among…

Day 18 on the Via di Francesco. Feeling rested and refreshed not just by sleep but by the atmosphere of the place I set off again. I was thinking today again of the open handed generosity of God in creation. So much of current life seems to be about efficiency, productivity, profitability and return on…

Day 19 on the Via di Francesco Up early and on the road by 6.30am – I was prepared for a long day. I made sure I was enjoying the cool of the early morning as I left town knowing that by the time I arrived it would be hot. There were all kinds of…

Day 20 on the Via di Francesco I read these words of the Psalm as I read Morning Prayer Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And so it was, by the time I had got ready and had some breakfast I felt much better about everything. I didn’t have…

Day 21 on the Via di Francesco. This was a day when I woke up after a disturbed night. Maybe it’s the Italian culture of eating a substantial meal quite late who knows. At 5.00am I got up and decided to creep out and pray as the sun was rising. It did not disappoint. I…

Day 22 on the Via di Francesco I was awake again at 5.00am and prayed and packed to start walking at 6.00am. There was a Bar open so I popped in for a quick coffee. A love for Espresso coffee is one of the discoveries of this trip. On the way out of town I…

Day 23 (1) on the Via di Francesco The lad I was sharing my dormitory with was getting up at 5.00am – so on the first day I didn’t have to be up early I was. At least I had peace and quiet to wake up properly and say my Morning Prayers before a very…