Monday 31 May 2010
Saturday 29 May 2010
Time out
Some newfound Aquitaines/friends resting in a field near Lascabanes.
Two French brothers and their Dutch friend Diny.
It seems after about 10 days of walking, complete mental peace have
arrived.
The days program is just looking at flowers in the fields, listening to the birds
sing, looking at all the green stuff, and waiting for dinner vine and
desert, besides walking from a to b.
Live is good and extremly simple being a pilgrim. You all need to try!
Of course there are blisters but even they don,t bother me much.
La Croix de Magne outside Cahors France
Norway for both me and my old boss in Oslo Norway?? Hmmmm.
Cahors 20100529
Cahors and the Pilgrim trail passes by.
Friday 28 May 2010
Cahors
Cahors a town of about 20 000 people.
Just realised that I have been here before , on the way to start our
Pilgrim walk, sleeping on the night train. Kind of weired isn't it?
Poppies everywhere 20100528
we walked about 26km from Vaylats to. Cahor doing good speed on Cami
Ferrat the old road constructed by the Romans. Means the road might be
2000 years old. Roman Legionairs were marching on them. Sometimes
doing this kind of walk makes you feel you are in some kind of time
maschine.
At a certain time today we were walking with Lou from Australia, A French
guy, a Dutch lady and us two "semi" Norwegians.
I realize I have problems to answer the question: Where do you come from. Should I
answer Norway, China or where I slept last night?
Thursday 27 May 2010
Bach 20100527
Time is sort of merging and the past is dissapearing. What is present
in my mind is the immidiate and the near future.
It is difficult to think about churc and work and people in HK. (but
I do do it)
in my mind is the immidiate and the near future.
It is difficult to think about churc and work and people in HK. (but
I do do it)
Just been walking for about 12km from Limogne and we are now in Bach.
The name stems from a German family that settled here in the 18th
century.
Having a big lunch of soup, then vegetables and lamb. Very nice, rose
vine too.
There is only one, but excellent restaurant in this village of about
500 people or so. The place is filler with walkers like us and
tourists. It is very easy to spot who is who from the clothes and the
sligvtly sloppy look our fellow Pilgrims.
Tonight we will sleep in a monastry run by the "Little sisters of
Jesus" eat with them and go to mass. I am wondering if they will allow
a protestant to participate in their communion? In our church we do
give communion to. catholics
Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Towards Cajarc 20100524
myself, however I kept on looking back hoping she would appear around
the bend of the road. I must have been missing her. She only reappered
at the Gite in Cajarc at 9:30pm.
This was about 90 minutes after me. At least "old" age I cam walk
faster tham her.
Getting into Cajarc last night I was really sore footed. Dined on old
bread, water and some marmelade.
Cajarc is a beautiful little village the locals insist to call a town.
May be they are right? It got a La Poste (post office) several
restaurants, hotels and even a railway station. The Gite is clean too.
I am sipping beer looking across the main square watching my laundry
drying in the window of my Gite.
At one of the restaurants we have found free wifi called "Default"
Life is great!
Cajarc 20100525
Long Walk last night more than 30km and I can still feel it in my
legs. Daughter and I split up for most of the day. Good to be alone
sometime. She also needs training for the time I go up to Paris on the
4th of June, and then to London for meetings. She managed yesterday
very well.
legs. Daughter and I split up for most of the day. Good to be alone
sometime. She also needs training for the time I go up to Paris on the
4th of June, and then to London for meetings. She managed yesterday
very well.
She wants to make it to Santiago de Compostella before July 25th St.
Jacobs birthday. Since it falls on a Sunday this year, 2010 is
considered a Holy year and the place is going to be jampacked.
Blisters have come back again. One on each foot. But with compeed
plaster I can walk quite well on it. Just need to take of. Got sun and
sweat rashon the back of my calves yesterday bought a tube of ointment
at the Pharmasie for that too. For some reason - all the small towns
have lots of Pharmasies (drug stores), but so does Paris so it can not
be the Pilgrims.
Sent from my iPhone Ole Jacob Groenvold
Long walk Yesterday
Today 20100525 Cajarc
Walked about 30km yesterday. Most of it alone. Kristine and I deceided
to split up for a day - sometime it is good to be alone. IT is also
good training for her when I leave for Paris and London for work. I
have to be in Paris by the 5th and
Walked about 30km yesterday. Most of it alone. Kristine and I deceided
to split up for a day - sometime it is good to be alone. IT is also
good training for her when I leave for Paris and London for work. I
have to be in Paris by the 5th and
Sent from my iPhone Ole Jacob Groenvold
Sunday 23 May 2010
Finally in Figuac Sunday 23 of June 2010
My baggage is back. It was really waiting for me here! I am feeling a
lttle bit more kindly disposed towards British Air, but not a lot. Not
getting your carefully packed stuff was awfull.
lttle bit more kindly disposed towards British Air, but not a lot. Not
getting your carefully packed stuff was awfull.
Now I am sitting here showered in the hotell and enjoying the view
from the hotell balcony. See next pic.
Just have to figure out how to get rid of the exstras I bought for the
walk. It might be a problem as today is Sunday and tomorrow is a pub.
holiday.
Anyway Malle Postall can help me. This is a servise that drives your
baggage for a fee along the trail. They even functions as a taxi if
you want to "cheat" on the walk.
Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold
Friday 21 May 2010
20100521
too, but this is very enjoyable!
Whish you were here!
Blue sky and yellow flowers
21st of May 2010!
Thursday 20 May 2010
Today 20100521 from Espeyrac towards Conque
Here we are in rural beautiful France a world apart from the big
cities! The air is so fresh and cool in the morning that that you can
taste the scent of flowers.
Tired girl who wants to be a Pilgrim
after not haveing slept properly since 15th of May in Hong Kong......
But She is so cool.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
First two days out of Hong Kong was just horrible
Arriving in Paris Monday afternoon my luggage had dispeared and only
surfased last night (Thuesday) in London were as I am now in Southern
France. In my missing backpack was all I thought I needed for my three
week on the Pilgrim trail.
surfased last night (Thuesday) in London were as I am now in Southern
France. In my missing backpack was all I thought I needed for my three
week on the Pilgrim trail.
Last night I was jubilant knowing my back would catch up with me in
Figeac on comeing Sunday.
I bought a small backpack last night, one silk sleeping sheet bag, two
pairs of socks, one towel, one underpants and a very friendly
farmasist got me the French version of my drugs not fussing about me
haveing no subscriptions.
Got a French sim card from Orange too and loaded it with 35 Euros that
SOMEHOW disapeared from my phone in the span of about two hours! I
have no idea about how, but were greatly Pissed at Orange. No calls to
HK!
Now I will only blog while on free wifi.
At that moment I was feeling completly desperate. This was before I
got the message my bag had been found.
Almost just wanted to go home.
I really deserved today. I really really want to take my trail friends
here!!
Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold
Beautiful beyond description.... French countryside. Beautiful villages of France
A very good day. We have walked our first day from Espalion to Estaign
13km. So green, so many flowers and rolling hills and oak forrests,
blue skies, white clouds, sunshine with about 17 degrees in the
shade,birds singing, beautiful churches and time to read the bible and
chat with daughter.
13km. So green, so many flowers and rolling hills and oak forrests,
blue skies, white clouds, sunshine with about 17 degrees in the
shade,birds singing, beautiful churches and time to read the bible and
chat with daughter.
I am praying for a friend with a sick wife, two friends from my cell
and ofcourse my wife who will have an important talk soon besides
reading 1 Samuel.
Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold
Monday 17 May 2010
Stuck in Heatrow for a while ash in the clouds.
This morning we should have landed at Heatrow at 04:55, then they told
us we were landing in Belgium Brussels, then changed their mind again
and landed at Stanstead in England instead. There they keept us in the
plane for 2 hours and flew us 15 minutes 16km to Heathrow in our
jumbojet. Shortest flight I have ever been on.
us we were landing in Belgium Brussels, then changed their mind again
and landed at Stanstead in England instead. There they keept us in the
plane for 2 hours and flew us 15 minutes 16km to Heathrow in our
jumbojet. Shortest flight I have ever been on.
Ash is causing a lot of problems, but I am wondering why this has not
been a problem before... Vulcanos have been there all the time.
When we got to Heathrow London I had of course missed my connection to
Paris and had to rebook. At the counter the lady was ventilating to
her next seat coleague, but took my passport and said, "Oh not yet
another Paris" talking as if I was a bothersome pacage she had to deal
with - then keep on ventilating with her coleagues. After about 5
minutes or so looked at me and asked what did I want.
Feeling provoked I did not respond at once, afterall she had my
passport and boardingcard in front of her, then said I need to go to
Paris as soon as possible. I admiti I might have sounded a bit
sarcastic.
Shenthen told me the first free seat was at 7pm tonight, but I could
standby on the 1pm one and the next ones before 7pm.
Checking in again at the Main counter the guy was wondering why the
lady had not asked me to standby on the 10am.
I am wondering too, because now I am almost in Paris on the 10am.
Did the first lady try to punish me for sarcasm? May be. Is there a
spiritual lesson here? If yes it must be that sarcasm does not pay of
Sent from my iPhone Ole Jacob Groenvold
Sunday 16 May 2010
San Pellegrino
sparkeling mineral water here in Hong Kong, translated into English
means The Holy Pilgrim.
Starting my pilgrimage 16/5 2010
At the airport in Hong Kong, Local time is 21:26
Why do I do this? Seen with the eyes of Hong Kong people it is
probably a bit weired. Walking may be 400 - 500 km in two and a half
week, carrying 8-9 kg on my back 6-8 hours a day, is that a good
holiday?
To me it is something I have been looking forward too for the last
year, from the day I left the trail in Espalion in France.
First of all it is a spiritual exersise. Walking like this opens my
mind and heart to God. Why does this happen on a pilgrimage?
One reason might be that so much of your daily life is stripped away -
this year I have not even brought my small camera, I am planning to
use my Iphone. This is not a photo opp.
Once on the trail talking is nice, but after a couple of hours of
doing that, there is still oceans of time to think and just take in
the beautiful French countryside.
Thinking about your life is actually giving God a chance to talk to
you, add prayer and bibel reading many times during the day you are
opening the door to Jesus. And when you do that He has promised to
enter.
Sent from my iPhone Ole Jacob Groenvold
Wednesday 12 May 2010
I am a pilgrim from China
Hi there.
The fourth stage of my pilgrimage is soon to start. On Sunday night 16/5 2010, we are getting on a plane to Paris from my home here in Hong Kong China. We are me Jack and my daughter.
From Paris France a night train will take us to Rodez i Mid-Pyrynes.
This is close to where the Pilgrim train between Le Puy en Velay i France and Satiago de Compostela in Spain passes by.
A bus will take me from Rodez to Espalion where we ended our walk last year 2010
The Le Puy en Velay to Espalion trail is about 160 km long, what is left to Santiago is about 1600+ km. From Espalion we are probably taking a taxi up to the beautiful village of St. Come d'Olt - where we will actully start and just walk the last day of 2009 to get to Espalion.
Olt is just to beautiful to not to have a closer look at - something we were not able to do last year. My daughter is probably even more keyed up than me.
She says she will do the whole trail in 2010 - and arrive in Santiago some time before the 25 of July. Which is I suppose the day in 2010 to be in Santiago de Compostella. The birthday or so the catholics say - of St. James the main saint of all Pilgrims.
This is the second time we go to France to walk - but it is not my first time on a pilegrim trail. Did walk 1, in a week in 2003 between Oslo and Hamar in Norway - about 150km and in 2004 between Dovre and Trondheim/Nidaros - about 250km. The second walk took about two weeks to complete.
Once you start doing walks like this, many of us are caught. I am. The feeling of freedom and peace is just too great not to try to experience again. (And why not)
Follow this blog - as I hope to blog directly from my Ipone down in France!
The fourth stage of my pilgrimage is soon to start. On Sunday night 16/5 2010, we are getting on a plane to Paris from my home here in Hong Kong China. We are me Jack and my daughter.
From Paris France a night train will take us to Rodez i Mid-Pyrynes.
This is close to where the Pilgrim train between Le Puy en Velay i France and Satiago de Compostela in Spain passes by.
A bus will take me from Rodez to Espalion where we ended our walk last year 2010
The Le Puy en Velay to Espalion trail is about 160 km long, what is left to Santiago is about 1600+ km. From Espalion we are probably taking a taxi up to the beautiful village of St. Come d'Olt - where we will actully start and just walk the last day of 2009 to get to Espalion.
Olt is just to beautiful to not to have a closer look at - something we were not able to do last year. My daughter is probably even more keyed up than me.
She says she will do the whole trail in 2010 - and arrive in Santiago some time before the 25 of July. Which is I suppose the day in 2010 to be in Santiago de Compostella. The birthday or so the catholics say - of St. James the main saint of all Pilgrims.
This is the second time we go to France to walk - but it is not my first time on a pilegrim trail. Did walk 1, in a week in 2003 between Oslo and Hamar in Norway - about 150km and in 2004 between Dovre and Trondheim/Nidaros - about 250km. The second walk took about two weeks to complete.
Once you start doing walks like this, many of us are caught. I am. The feeling of freedom and peace is just too great not to try to experience again. (And why not)
Follow this blog - as I hope to blog directly from my Ipone down in France!
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