To all my Camino friends I met on the way to Santiago and all my friends at home.
It was 10 years ago on 5th May 2013 when I set off from Le Puy en Velay to walk to Compostela de Santiago,and then to Finisterre. On 7th May, this year, in memory of my first journey which I embarked upon in memory of my friend Kay Starr, who sadly died.
I set off once again to walk from Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied de Port, which I completed in just under six weeks. It was a beautiful walk evoking many memories of my first trip to Compostela and of all the wonderful people I met. It was harder going than i thought it would be. I was camping and I am 10 years older, At 73 years of age I realise I don’t bend in the middle like I used to. Putting up and taking down, and sleeping in my small one man tent was something I had to get used to. Carrying my ruck sack, with tent and cooking pots along with pans, water and clothes etc was hard work. But in the end was worth every step.
Initially, it was cold and wet walking over the Aubrac mountains, with steep climbs bot up and down . As time passed, it became very hot, humid and stormy with torrential downpours. The scenery was breathtaking over looking valleys, forests and farmland as far as the eye could see.
Once again I met lots of beautiful people who made my journey worth the going. People who I will always have a deep and lasting friendship with and the fondness of memories.
Beun Camino.
Tom Thompson
