The Via Podiensis
The Via Podiensis is also known as Le Chemin du Puy or Voie du Puy. I walked from Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied de Port, starting May 31 2011 and finishing in St Jean Pied de Port on July 6 2011. My blog is at http://mynextcamino.blogspot.com/. I walked for 35 days and had 2 rest days (a total of 37 days,). I averaged about 20 kilometres per day and spent about 30 Euros a day (this is probably on the light side for most people). The Confraternity of St James has a good description of the route. I used Miam miam dodo ordered from the bookshop at the Confraternity of St James and also carried a kindle ebook version of Alison Raju's Le Puy to the Pyrenees on my new android phone..useful as it contained instructions on the route. I used the Geodesalco interactive planner to create a possible itinerary although rarely stuck to it. The Camino de Santiago forum was a mine of useful information.
Maps and guides for the Via Podiensis
Gr-Infos Chemins de Grandes Randonnées, the GR65 corresponds to the Chemin du Puy
http://www.chemindecompostelle.com
Miam Miam Dodo maps Click on each place to expand description
Les Haltes vers Compostelle Click on each link to see accomodation
Au coeur du chemin shows stages, with maps
Blogs
Il faut aller doucement Kiwi Nomad's 2008 camino from Le Puy.. my inspiration!
Wave journey Le Puy en Velay to Conques in 10 days
Somewhere to go.. not in a hurry 2008
Dusty Track 2010
Saga Lout's The Road to Nowhere
Anna-Marie's Pilgrim Roads
From LE PUY-EN-VELAY to PAMPLONA via the VIA PODENSIS very helpful table showing progress.
Miscellaneous travel info
Phones in France or Travelsim or Cell phone use in France or here
Train information Schedules are only available a few months into the future, but they rarely change,
Paris Thorn tree forum
Bedbugs Bed Bug repellents