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March 11, 2011

Camino de Santiago – a guide’s story

Filed under: Bike, Camino de Santiago, Guide posts, Spain — Tags: , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 3:12 pm
Justin Wuycheck DuVine Adventures Guide

Justin

1000 kms of memories – hiked by Justin Wuycheck – DuVine Senior Guide

As many of our readers know DuVine has a Camino de Santiago bike tour but The Camino di Santiago has been an important part of my life from a hiking perspective, a very different way to travel.  Three times, I’ve had the chance to hike those dusty trails, and three times I’ve come back with innumerable memories.  A few anecdotes:

October 2000. Towards the end of the middle of 750km:   We are hiking up the Cruz de Ferro,  the poet David Van Dusen, a woman from MTV Brazil, and I , a college grad.  It is a cool morning, and to keep the chill away I sing “The Man Who Couldn’t Cry,” in the style of Johnny Cash.  The woman from Brazil likes this.  David says, “This is a long song.”

Camido di Santiago bike tour

Hiking along the Camino

Not an amazing anecdote.  Day after day, mile after mile, lots of trifles like this.  And then you reach Santiago: You visit the cathedral; you have a final meal together; you turn to say goodbye and you can’t.  In the shadow of mountains and beautiful monuments, those un-amazing anecdotes have drawn you all close.

September 2004.  Hiking 150 km in Galacia:   I’ve been living in the Pyrenees, biking Tour de France mountains.  I am STRONG.  My father comes to Europe for the first time to hike the Camino of which I’ve spoken so often.  He’s in his early sixties.  We spend two days doing 30+km days.  The third day we do more than 40, and at about kilometer 40, my dad just starts walking away.  I mean I can’t keep up.  The young guy who conquered the Col de blah blah blah and Mt.  This-and-That, can’t keep up.

Camido di Santiago bike tour

Hiking along the St. James Way

July 2007. Hiking 200km through central/southern France:  It’s sunny in the forests of the Haute-Loire.  I am singing like Johnny Cash again, on the French Camino, the Chemin de St. Jacques.  I finish “Long Black Veil” and my girlfriend grabs my arm and kisses me.

As you can tell I am big on the experience and the memories that remain with you long after a trip is completed, although these days my anecdotes come from  bike tours in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Provence… so come along with me and experience these fantastic places and create your own memories.

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February 25, 2010

Make a Pilgrim’s Progress on the Camino de Santiago

Filed under: Bike, Camino de Santiago, Spain — Tags: , , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 2:17 pm

 

The road to Camino de Santiago

 Trade in your walking shoes for a bicycle and some DuVine inspiration as we follow the Camino de Santiago to Compostela. Not only will you achieve absolution, but you will also become part of history – as 2010 marks a Jubilee [Holy] year. 

So, what can you expect on this cycling vacation? In short, a lot of history, as we follow in the footsteps of centuries of adventurers on a modern day pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago as it winds through the Galician countryside – climbing up hills that overlook the scenic vineyards, descending into small medieval villages, riding along the river and into the plains of Castilla. 

Cycling along the Camino

 

The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. The pilgrimage owes its origin to the discovery, in what is now Galicia, of the tomb of the Apostle James the Great sometime early in the 9th century. Legend holds that St. James’s remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. For more than 1000 years pilgrims have been walking along the Camino de Santiago. 

The Puerta Santa (Holy Door), which gives access to the Cathedral from the Plaza de la Quintana is opened on 31st of December on the eve of each Holy Year, and walled up again a year later. As in the past, pilgrims reaching Santiago during a Holy Year, and fulfilling the conditions for it, are granted a plenary indulgence, which means that they get remission for all of their  worldy sins.  Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to walk to Santiago in 2010 – not only because it is a Holy Year but because the next Holy Year will not be for another 11 years. 

Sights along the St. James Way

 

Whatever the reason for your trek on this historic path– spiritual, personal, physical – you can guarantee that your modern day pilgrimage will be an unforgettable experience. 

And remember, the key phrase is “modern day“. Whereas unlike your historic counterparts, if you join us on our bike tour, you will be experiencing this journey in the lap of luxury. No need to worry about where to find refuge for the night, as you will rest in ultimate comfort at lavish paradors and hotels and wine and dine your way to Santiago de Compostela. 

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