Preparing yourself
Walking shoes - well broken in walking shoes or runners (NOT a pair that you buy a month before). You need to have walked at least 50 miles in a new pair of walking shoes (less if you wear trainers). Get plenty of walking done in the 2 months run up to the pilgrimage if you can (three or four 5 mile walks per week at least and if possible from Easter a 10mile walk every second weekend). The pilgrimage is very tough: 110km in three days – and can lead to chronic sores if not adequately prepared for.
Socks - Enough pairs of socks for 3 days walking - either a thin pair such as thousand-mile socks, under a thick pair, or simply a good thick pair by themselves. As the majority of the walking is on tarmac, trainers with clean, regularly changed trainer socks can often be the most effective for avoiding blisters.
Flip flops or similar - for airing your feet at the campsite.
Clothes - You will need clothes for three days of walking and also clothes for being in Chartres for a day after the pilgrimage. Bring clothes that are light and comfortable for walking in (not tight-fitting), and also clothes that dry easily in case of downpours....denim is a definite NO! For evenings and early mornings you will need a warm jumper or fleece as it can be cold. Also bring warm clothes for sleeping in, including a woolly hat. You will also need to bring raingear that you can fit in your day bag - a poncho is ideal.
Camping equipment - a ground mat, a sleeping bag, and a headtorch or a suspension lantern which can be handy inside the tent at night. NDC provide soup in the evening so it is good to have your own cup or bowl. Plastic bags are useful for all sorts of things including rubbish when in your tent at night.
Washing - personal toiletries and a towel (if you have the energy to make it to the wash tents...where there are troughs with trickles of water ...or wipes are an easier option!)
Sun - bring sunscreen/aftersun cream, and a hat or scarf
Footcare - blister patches/sterilised safety pins for popping blisters/plasters
Food - NDC provides bread and coffee at breakfast, bread at lunchtime and bread and soup in the evening. You should pack food to supplement this over the three days. Popular choices are salamis, hard cheese, tinned fish, salty crisps and nuts, chocolate, dried fruit.
Cash - you will need cash for the meals out on Friday night in Paris, and on Monday night in Chartres, and also for a donation to NDC.
Luggage - a big rucksack or suitcase for the majority of your luggage - this is transported to the campsite in a lorry each day. It should be labelled with a distinguishing ribbon (tartan is good) to enable you to spot it easily when you collect it. (Scottish pilgrims drop their bags in a lorry marked ETRANGERS and pick them up in the evening from the same lorry). It is a good idea to wrap the items in this rucksack in bin bags as the luggage is left outside at the campsite. If it rains the binbags will help to keep your gear dry.
AND a small backpack to carry during the day containing -
rosary beads, food for the day, song book (which will be provided), water bottle (water is distributed at rest stops), sun hat and cream, blister plasters, spare socks, paracetamol, rain gear and anything else you need.
The pilgrimage consists of 3 pentitential, testing days for your dear body!
Preparing yourself well is a must!
“I can do all these things in Him who strengthenth me. (Philippians 4:13)
The walk covers 70 miles/110km in three days. This means early morning starts, long hours of walking and arriving at the campsite late in the evenings and so it does require a good level of fitness.