Via Francigena
Most of you know that Luke and me (plus one) are traveling right now. We took a train to Florence Italy last Tuesday and decided to hike (and hitch) to Rome. I know, right, we found out about 3 weeks ago we will be having a baby, but we got some advice from midwives and as long as I'm hydrated and eating well and not carrying too much weight, we are safe to travel. So we've been hiking now for 7 days, each day around 20 kms, which takes about 4-5 hours and we get up at 5:30 am, because the first couple days the Tuscan sun scortched us! The feet took a bit adjusting, but now just swell. My pack is around 10 kilos and Luke's is around 15. We are doing an old mideval route called "via francigena" it was the main route used to travel through Europe. Along the way there are free places to stay for Pilgrims. It's been so awesome, free bed, some times a kitchen to use and a place to hang smelly clothes. We have 4 more days until Rome, where we'll chill out for a bit, because they say I could be feeling a bit sick then.
As of yet, I have nearly no problematic pregnancy symptoms, just stopping and peeing every 15 meters. Oh and we've been hitchhiking, which so far has been such an adventure. We hitchhike where the trail is paved road, cause your feet start to burn like crazy when the road is flat. And the sweetest coolest people have picked us up. Don't worry those who are worried, we only go on the smaller coutry roads not the highways, that is too dangerous and we have a safety plan! We are very pregidous against BMW's and Mercede's they always fly by, but we appreciate the gust of wind in our faces! And when you walk along the road the huge trucks are the scariest, those blasts of wind almost lift you off the ground!
Luke decieded not to go to St. John's university this fall cause he didn't get enough aid. We plan right now to come back to the US in September and we want to visit Canada soon after if possible. Alright, this cafe is expensive and we still don't have a place to sleep for tonight yet, this town has no place for Pilgrims. Oh and Italy, gelato is amazing, coconut, white chocolate is a personal favorite and Spaghetti bolognese is something is dye for, statues and art, you just can't beat. Pictures soon.
May 21st, 2009 - 10:35
Lovely to hear from you! I am glad all is well and you are enjoying it so much. As promised, every night before I go to bed I imagine where you are; what you are up too.
June 8th, 2009 - 04:33
Hello Luke
This is strange world we live in.
My wife and I walked the Via Francigena last year (September and October) from Switzerland to Rome. Like you we are currently blogging about our experiences during the incredible journey- mind you we are blogging post the actual walk. At the same time I am researching about this famous pilgrim route, so each time we make an entry we like to include other relevant information. This is how I found your site.
What caught my attention is your entry about having guillain barre. You might be surprised to learn that I myself got guillain barre just over 4 ½ years ago. It seems from you have indicated you like myself only received a mild case of guillain barre. I was in the hospital, semi paralyzed but only 2 weeks. However I did spent the next two-three months learning to walk again. Much like you I came down with it during the winter (on New Year Eve to be exact but the symptoms actually started about 2 days before). By April I was able to walk again.
However it did take another year or so to get completely rid of all the minor symptoms (fatigue being the most common one). So be prepared for this.
The good news since then my wife and I have walked the Camino de Santiago (May 2007) and now the Via Francigena. And we plan to walk some other pilgrim trails in the years to follow
If you are ever interested in want to talk more about guillain barre please free to contact me directly – there are not too many of us as you are probably discovering.
Warm regards
Neville