Introduction
In 2011, Ercilia Barahona and Richard Hughes decided that they wanted to walk across Europe.
As senior citizens, aged 66 and 79 years respectively, they had decided that their life had just started after retiring from the chemical industry.
Both had left positions of responsibility after many long years of work and they needed a bigger challenge than they had ever had.
So on August 22, 2011 they set out on the Camino de Santiago. The route went from St. Jean Pied de Port in France over the Pyrenees and across the northern mountains of Spain to Santiago de Compostela at the western end of Spain (about 840 kilometres). They took 31 walking days to cover the distance and were walking an average of about 27 kilometres per day.
On their return to Australia both were enthralled by the beauty of what they had the privilege to experience.
Sometime in 2012 they agreed to have another walk and investigated other routes to go as far as Finisterre which is situated 90 km further than Santiago de Compostela close to Acoruna in the very top western end of Spain. They knew that there would be the most amazing views of the ocean and sun sets.
They started in Germany this time and set out to walk from Nuremburg, Germany. They headed across Germany to Switzerland and then over the Alps. From there it was across France and over the Pyrenees into Spain. From there they hiked across Spain to Finisterre via Santiago de Compostela. In all the distance was about 3000 kilometres. This route took about 130 walking days covering an average of about 25km per day.
This year Ercilia and Richard will start a new adventure, walking the Via Francigena – an old pilgrim route running from Canterbury Cathedral in England to the Vatican in Rome Italy.
This route was followed by Saint Augustine and it was the most important road of medieval Europe from the 6th to the 13th Century.
Starting from Canterbury, they will walk to Dover, crossing the channel by ferry and arriving in Calais, France. From there they walk South East across France to the border of Switzerland and on to Lausanne.
From there the route goes around the edge of the Lake and on to reach the Alps. They will continue to the Grand Saint Bernard Pass (2473mt altitude) which is at the Northern border of Italy and then they will descend through the Aosta Valley going through picturesque areas and villages until meeting the Mediterranean coast at Sarzana.
The route will continue south and after walking 2000km they will reach St Peter’s square, Rome – The Eternal City.
If all of that was not enough, they are also venturing into the world of blogging their journey.
Richard
Richard was always active. He loved sport in general and early in his life he played cricket and Rugby and later became a keen golfer. At the age of 70 he joined the Masters athletics and became a successful sprinter achieving 8 state records 80+ years old 60, 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres (6 remaining) 2 Australian records and 1 world record (4X400 metres relay). This activity has become part of his life and gave him a good fitness level and a lot of personal satisfaction.
Ercilia
Much preferring the sedentary way of life, Ercilia has the determination to see things through to the very end. Nothing will stop her. This compensates for the difference in fitness levels. Not to be outdone, she has had many successes in her career, retiring as a Director of her company. In 2013 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing the necessary operations in February and radiation treatments in March she immediately set out to conquer a 3000km hike. At home she faces other challenges. She spends time experimenting in the kitchen with recipes from her childhood and new ones that she has invented and knitting for her grandchildren.