Essential Advice

In General:

The Paris-Chartres walking pilgrimage can be a bit daunting for a new pilgrim. While there is company and support in the Chapter you walk with, there are some things that a new pilgrim must bring with him. He (or just as likely, she) must be reasonably physically fit. The walk is arduous and involves long days full of physical effort. Besides the distance to be covered, there is also the weather which can go from cold and wet to oppressively hot and humid, even during the same day! A certain degree of physical strength and fitness is a must; someone who is ill or disabled in some way is unlikely to be able to manage the challenge of 105 km in 2.5 days in conditions that feel like they range from Arctic to Tropical and back again.

Conditions in camp are serviceable but primitive. Portaloos on the back of trucks, cold water only for washing, rough ground under your sleeping bag and a horribly early wake-up call on the PA system are all to be expected.

The prospective pilgrim must also bring a great store of patience and good humour. At some point the other members of the Chapter will get on your nerves; the Chef or Head of the Chapter will most definitely get on your nerves, as he makes demands on you when you are already tired and footsore. It is an absolute requirement that you are co-operative and helpful in these circumstances. Put simply, on the walk itself you must follow the lead of others and be willing to take orders, even from someone half your own age!

Having said all that, the rewards from the Pilgrimage are very great. Spiritually, it gives a tremendous opportunity for prayer, penance and grace. Mentally, completing the Pilgrimage is the greatest morale boost going, to say nothing of the comradeship with fellow pilgrims. "Bon Pélèrinage!"

In Particular:

Stick with your 'chapter'
The pilgrimage is divided up into national and regional 'chapters' - you will be walking in the St. Patrick's Chapter and it's important that you try to keep up to the chapter. If you allow yourself to fall back it can be quite difficult and onerous to catch up.

Volunteer for banner carrying duty
Each chapter carries flags, banners and in our case, a cross. Every person (except for the older pilgrims) within the group is asked to carry these over the 3 days. There is no rota but we depend on people volunteering. As the day wears on and people get more tired it becomes harder but it is part of the penitential nature of the pilgrimage.

Listen to the 'Chef de Chapitre'
The 'Chef de Chapitre' is the person in charge of the chapter. He keeps the chapter together and is essential for the day to day activities of the chapter.

Keep drinking
It's very important to make sure that sure you drink water continuously while walking as dehydration can happen quite easily.

Keep snacking
It's also important to eat salty foods (such as peanuts etc) along the way.