Via di Francesco

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 It involved leaving the city on an old route which had now been superceded.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…