With the inclusion of dear Camino 2011 friend, Andreas, our Via San Francesco group now number four hardy and experienced pilgrims. Each is known for his or her own unique strengths:

• Jacqueline — Walks at the “Austrian pace” which we’ve learned is fastest among all pilgrim nationalities;
• Sebastian — Provides the humor — often understandable to non-Germans, and also makes us aware of all fire fighting technology seen along the way;
• Andreas — Amazes all with his mastery of all things Tolkien, as well as his musical gifts and friendly spirit; and
• Me — The éminence grise who supplies wisdom — whether it’s welcome or not — and who obsessively insists on walking into any church that happens to have an unlocked door.

Here’s my one photo with all our 2013 pilgrims together in one place. From left: Jacqueline, Catia, Nikki, Andreas, moi, Sebastian, Annina, Alex.

As well as setting the pace, Jacqueline has been the primary researcher for our walk, hunting down blogs, websites and the occasional (though rare) travel guide. This task has devolved to Jacqueline since most of the materials are in German. She’s set up a plan for us that follows this itinerary of a fairly disparate group of resources, from websites like this for guidebooks like this. Next month the newest edition of the primary guidebook, by Angela Serrachioli, will be published. As with the Camino de Santiago the best guidebooks seem to be in German. So having two German/English speakers (plus Andreas speaks German pretty well) will be an important plus.

Right now our daily itinerary looks like this:

1. Assisi – Spello (24km)
2. Spello – Trevi (14km)
3. Trevi – Spoleto (18km or 28km?)
4. Spoleto – Ceselli (16km)
5. Ceselli – Piediluco (27 km)
6. Piediluco – Poggio Bustone (21km)
7. Poggio Bustone – Rieti (18km)
8. Rieti – Poggio San Lorenzo (21km)
9. Poggio San Lorenzo – Pontecelli di Scandriglia (26km)
10. Pontecelli di Scandriglio – Monterotondo (28km)
11. Monterotondo – Monte Sacro (18km)
12. Monte Sacro – St. John in Lateran – St. Peter in Vatican

However it’s very likely we’ll head to Poggio Bustone, Terminillo, Piediluco and La Foresta which are important St. Francis sites and apparently in quite beautiful territory. These are off the track, though, which means we’ll either walk them twice (to and from) or find transport to take us one way or the other.

In the next few days I’ll buy airline tickets, plus I’ll read a couple of the new biographies of St. Francis that just this week were reviewed in the New Yorker. Four months of waiting (sigh) and planning (smile).

Fresco by Giotto at Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

Dear St. James (Santiago),

You’ve been a great friend over the past years, but this year I must apologize in advance — I’m following St. Francis. Will you forgive me?

I’d like to blame it on Sebastian and Jacqueline, but in truth I’m partly to blame myself. When the idea was proposed (by them) to walk from St. Francis’ town of Assisi to Rome, at first I wasn’t sure. I knew I’d miss you (um, and the wine and the tortilla and the menu del peregrino and the Cilantro), which would be sad. But I knew, too, that this walk from Assisi to Rome would be beautiful and meaningful and something of an adventure. Not many people are walking this way. There’s not even a guidebook for the walk in English.

Now, don’t get all “Santiago Matamoros” on me. I knew you’d be upset, but remember that St. Francis is a dear friend, too. You know how much I enjoyed Brother Sun, Sister Moon back in the sixties. It seemed like St. Francis was the best hippie of all time! Yes, the poverty and depravation didn’t seem all that fun, but he seemed so free and so close to the God and so simple and faithful. And St. Claire was so, well, gorgeous.

Our plan is that we will meet (the three of us from caminos 2011 and 2012) In Assisi and we will then walk through sites of St. Francis, through some of his favorite villages and towns, then on to Rome. In ten days the trip follows what must’ve been his itinerary when he travelled from Assisi to Rome to explain himself to Pope Innocent III. You know the story. The Pope, who had felt threatened by the popularity of this little, impoverished friar, had a dream after seeing St. Francis. He saw the pillars of his church tumbling to the ground, except that Francis was steadying them. The pope saw the dream as a message from God that St. Francis and his focus on the poor would help his church to change and survive.

Maybe Sebastian and Jacqueline and I will have a special dream as we walk, too. I don’t know, but maybe God has some kind of vision or purpose in drawing us toward Assisi and Rome this year. I know one thing will be accomplished: we three who’ve walked together in the past will have the joy of walking together again. Also, we’ll receive a special testimonium to commemorate our walk.

But St. James, I know I will miss you. For four of the last five years I’ve walked to Santiago de Compostela. I’ve looked for you in stained glass windows and sculptures. I’ve rejoiced when I hugged your statue in the cathedral there and I’ve prayed while I peered through the glass to your sarcophagus. I will miss that this year. St. Francis calls, though, and I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say.

Oh, more bad news. I’m going to do my best to visit St. Peter in 2014. More details to follow. In case you think we’ve forgotten you: my sister is going to see you this year. She will send you my love and prayers, and please do look after her. You know how she gets blisters.

It gives me some comfort to know that you will have many pilgrims seeing you this coming year. Please give them safe travels and warm friendships and joyful memories as you do with all your pilgrims. I will be back. I promise.

Your devoted friend,

Sandy Brown (Caminoist)