The Pilgrim`s Progress- St Jacques de Compostelle

THE MISSION: A physical, mental and cross-cultural learning experience

Goal: Trekking on foot from Le Puy en Velay to Saint Jean Pied Port

Distance: 780 kilometres, 29 stages roughly relating to one stage per day.

Logistics: Average 25 kilometres per day. 10 kilo back pack (including two litres of water). Budget- 20 euros per day.

The Challenge: Solo trek (joined occasionally by friends). Negotiate route in French- guide book is totally in French. Learn basic, conversational (survival) French, through this cross cultural challenge. Will learnings from other cultural challenges translate to this one? What will be the common basis of connections along the way? What mental strategies and disciplines learned from previous adventures will work here to combat the loneliness and lack of cultural familiarity.

Obstacles: Unfamiliar terrain and region. Current unseasonal weather. Slightly suspect back. The need to return to Paris for business/project requirements. Lack of approprate hydration = Fatique. Lack of long hiking experience.

MANIFEST /LIST
Water/hydration system- 2 litres
Toiletry bag (tooth paste, brush, razors, shaving creme, body wash)
Sun screen cream and foot cream
First Aid kit
Aqua tabs
Camera & rolls of film
Notebook and pens
Passport
Cord and clothes pegs
Waterproof box for food
Torch
Mobile phone (eeerk!!)Telecarte
Cash/Credit cards
Knife
Guide book
French/English dictionary
Reading glasses
Compass
1 x jumper
Rain jacket
2 x pairs of shorts
1 x pants
3 x Tee shirts
1 x shirt
4 x underwear
3 x socks
1 x hiking boots
1 x sandals
1 x shower slippers
Washing liquid
Zip lock bags
Plastic bags
Toilet paper
Lighter
Silk Sleeping sheet
Sleeping mat
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THE ROUTE

St Jacques de Compstelle
(Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied Port)

Distance (klms) Hours

1 Le Puy-en-Velay- Saint Privat-d` Allier 23.9 (6hrs)

2. Saint-Privat-d`Allier- Saugues 19.2 (5-50hrs)

3. Saugues-Saint Alban sur Limagnoble 29.2 (7-30hrs)

4. Saint Alban sur Limagnoble-Aumont Abrac 15.2 (3-50hrs)

5. Aumont Abrac-Nasbinals 26.3 (6-40hrs)

6. Nasbinals-Saint Chely d`Aubrac 15.9 (4hrs)

7. Saint Chely d`Aubrac- Espation 23.7 (6hrs)

8. Espation- Golinhac 26.6 (6-45hrs)

9. Golinhac-Conques 20.8 (5-15hrs)

10. Conques- Livinhac le Haut 25.8 (6-30hrs)

11 Livinhac le Haut- Figeac 25.3 (6-20hrs)

12 Figeac- Cajarc 31.6 (8hrs)

13. Cajarc-Limogne-Varaire 25.7 (6-30hrs)

14. Varaire-Cahors 33.1 (8-30hrs)

15. Cahors-Lascabanes 22.2 (5-40hrs)

16. Lascabanes-Lauzerte 22.8 (5-45hrs)

17. Lauzerte-Moissac 26.3 (6-40hrs)

18. Moissac-Auvillar-Saint Antoine 29.6 (7-30hrs)

19. Saint Antoine-Lectoure 24.8 (6-15hrs)

20. Lectoure-Condom 26.9 (6-15hrs)

21. Condom-Montreal-Eauze 33.5 (8-20hrs)

22. Eauze-Nogaro 19.2 (4-50hrs)

23. Nogaro-Aire sur l`Adour 30.0 (7-30hrs)

24. Air sur l`Adour-Arzacq-Arraziguet 32.7 (8-15hrs)

25. Arzacq-Arraziguet- Arthez-de Bearn 31.0 (7-45hrs)

26. Arthez de Bearn-Navarrenx 32.2 (8-15hrs)

27. Navarrenx-Aroue 18.7 (4-45hrs)

28. Aroue-Ostabat 24.5 (6-15hrs)

29. Ostabat-Saint Jean Pied de Port 22.5 (5-45hrs)