22nd July 2017
22nd July 2017
La Storta - St. Peter's Square, Rome 19kms
Dear friends, we are delighted to say that following our mad 36kms dash yesterday to get within striking distance of Rome, we arrived at the Vatican this morning at 10:45am! So here our fabulous journey ends after over 2000kms (1300+miles)!
It has been a really tough adventure for us but one which we have also enjoyed tremendously. Our driving force has been the fact that we are fundraising for the NDCS (National Deaf Children's Society). Every time we felt that it was getting too much we thought of our lovely grandson Magnus and many children like him who have hearing problems. We hope our efforts will inspire you to help us achieve our goal. We "hearing" people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams. We hope and trust you will help us help NDCS, who in turn will help Magnus achieve his.
We remember Canterbury Cathedral with our grandchildren running riot chasing balloons while we tried to gather them together for a photograph, the sadness of the many young people interred in the WWI and WWII cemeteries in northern France, the long straight Roman roads, the beauty of Rheims Cathedral, the vineyards of the Champagne region, the World Heritage site of Besançon, the somewhat dangerous but exciting trek in the Gorges of the Loue , the interminable climb up the Great St Bernard Pass in Switzerland in the freezing cold, the foggy descent to the Aosta valley, the strong climb to the Cisa Pass gateway to Tuscany, the beauty of the landscape in Tuscany, the never-ending rice fields and mosquitoes in Vercelli, the amazing Roman bridge in Pont-Saint -Martin, the lake in Bolsena, the marble mountains of Carrara, the beauty of Lucca, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, the wild boars near Monteriggioni, the incredible Square in Sienna where they hold the Palio each year and many many more beautiful things that will stay in our memories for ever.
The many friends we have made along the way, people who offered us help, took us into their homes, but most of all those friends who walked with us, some for a very short time, others for much longer, two of those friends Peter and Johanna (Netherlands)who were waiting for us this morning in St Peter's Square, together with their family to welcome us to Rome. Other friends like Paola (Italy), Bart (Netherlands) and Uber (not sure of spelling!) (Germany)who also arrived today, other good friends like Carina (Brazil) who is now sitting on a bus heading only God knows where(!), Martin (Italy) who left yesterday for his home in Modena, Giuseppe and Elisa (Italy) who could not make it to Rome this time as they run out of holiday time, Paolo (Italy) Robin and Jill USA, (who arrive tomorrow), Joerg (Germany) Simonetta (Italy) who walked with us for a short time only but has become a good friend, Carole, Etienne, Mael and Morgan (Belgium), Bernie and Michelle (Australia), Daniel (Switzerland), John and Patricia (New Zealand) and many more whose names we cannot immediately remember.
And then there's you, who have been following our footprints on the Via Francígena, encouraging us every step of the way. Thank you!
This has been an incredible experience and one which we shall always remember. We hope that one day our grandchildren, inspired by what we have done, will also follow our footprints and see for themselves that no matter what obstacles life puts in your way, you can overcome these if you set your mind to it.
In the words of Charles Dickens:
For our path in life is stony and rugged now,and it rests with us to smooth it. We must fight our way onward. We must be brave.There are obstacles to be met,and we must meet and crush them !
(David Copperfield)
(David Copperfield)
More photos tomorrow when we have had a chance to rest properly!
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