Tag: Pilgrims

Less on More ~ May 21, 2016

  • Saturday, May 21, 2016
  • Day 21 (Day 18 Camino)
  • Avignonet-Lauragais
  • Distance: 20 miles (5% tarmac) 266 total miles
  • Ascent 616 feet and descent 683 feet
  • Time: 9 1/4 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, 20 MPH winds with blue skies

I have done less miles on more food.

Today I will be satisfied with yesterday’s baguette, the last of Anne’s M&M’s, and dried apricots. Nothing by which to feed oneself in this French countryside but beauty.

  1. Toward Avignonet-Lauragais – Distant snow covered Pyrenesse Mountains
  2. Toward Avignonet-Lauragais
  3. Toward Avignonet-Lauragais – Last hill to Gîte…no one said it would be easy.

Respite ~ May 20, 2016

  • Friday, May 20, 2016
  • Day 20 (Day 17 Camino)
  • Dreuilhe (Between Revel and Lac de Lenclas)
  • Distance: 15 miles (90% tarmac) 246 total miles
  • Ascent 964 feet and descent 937 feet
  • Time: 7 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, cloudy turning blue skies

Respite from walking…coffee at a café, backpack off, laundry drying on the line; albeit, guarded by geese.

  1. Toward Dreuilhe – Revel
  2. Toward Dreuilhe – Revel
  3. Dreuilhe – Chambre d’Hôtel la Métairie de Dreuilhe


Becoming ~ May 20, 2016 

  • Friday, May 20, 2016
  • Day 20 (Day 17 Camino)
  • Dreuilhe (Between Revel and Lac de Lenclas)
  • Distance: 15 miles (90% tarmac) 246 total miles
  • Ascent 964 feet and descent 937 feet
  • Time: 7 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, cloudy turning blue skies

Having walked for weeks, I have become a distance walker. My legs mindlessly move like the swing of a metronome. My walking poles have evolved into an extra set of legs. Once hoisted on my back, my backpack feels more like an appendage than an anchor.

  1. Toward Dreuilhe
  2. Toward Dreuilhe
  3. Dreuilhe

French-Three-Some ~ May 18, 2016

  • Wednesday, May 18, 2016
  • Day 18 (Day 15 Camino)
  • Castres
  • Distance: 9 + 5 miles = 14 miles (10% tarmac) 218 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 1,155 feet and descent 1,449 feet
  • Time: 3 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, blue skies with clouds & few drizzles

Who should appear in Castres? None other than the French-Three-Some I have been playing leap-frog for a week on the Camino.

Can you find the my provider of a much needed baguette when all the boulangeies were closed?

  1. Castres
  2. Castres
  3. Castres – Garden at Museum of Goya

Run for It ~ May 17, 2016

  • Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Jean Claude’s Birthday
  • Day 17 (Day 14 Camino)
  • Boissezon
  • Distance: 13 miles (1% tarmac) 204 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 1,015 feet and descent 2,590 feet
  • Time: 6 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, blue skies with clouds

I’ve been following this Frenchman for eight days. Any idea what I am always thinking? Grab the baguette and run for it!  He starts each day with a fresh baguette and ends each day with no baguette.

  1. Toward Boissezon
  2. Toward Boissezon
  3. Leaving Anglès

Mama Mia ~ May 13, 2016

  • Friday 13, 2016
  • Day 13 (Day 10 Camino)
  • Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar
  • Distance: 20 miles (5% tarmac) 150 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 3,361 feet and descent 3,159 feet
  • Time: 9 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 45- 60 degrees, 18 mph wind, cloudy with rain sprinkles

Mamma Mia! This Italian carries beer plus camping gear. He even serves the brew in a cup.

This Italian couple are the only non-retired pilgrims I have met in ten days. They walk on a shoe-string budget camping in the wild, on church property or being taken-in by the locals or paying for the occasional Gîte when the rain is hard.

My heart soars every time I see them. Who could resist their smile?

  1. Towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar
  2. Towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar
  3. Towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar

Pain ~ May 13, 2016 

  • Friday 13, 2016
  • Day 13 (Day 10 Camino)
  • Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar
  • Distance: 20 miles (5% tarmac) 150 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 3,361 feet and descent 3,159 feet
  • Time: 9 1/2 hours
  • Weather: 45- 60 degrees, 18 mph wind, cloudy with rain sprinkles

The pain of stopping the Camino is far more painful than the pain that caused you to stop.

Today the Belgium abruptly announced he could go no farther. Knee issues, which began before I met him, caused him to immediately return to Belgium.

Our hearts have tears saying good-bye.

In ten days, I’ve met a dozen pilgrims. Two have had to stop because of complications resulting from walking. I have learned much from those who can’t continue.

  1. Yesterday…Towards Lunas – pausing
  2. Towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar – Sergio at bus stop
  3. Towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mar – Sergio with a brave smile and a hopeful ride as a hitch-hiker

Sound Appealing? ~ October 3, 2015

  • October 3, 2015
  • Day 26
  • Assisi
  • Caminno Day 15
  • 9 miles
  • Total ascent 2,054 feet and descent 1,969 feet
  • 4 1/4 hours
  • 55 – 75 degrees

Cammino Di Assisi in 15 days:

  • Total ascent of 44,033 feet (Mount Everest is 29,029 feet)
  • Total distance of 182 miles (New York City to Boston is 215 miles)
  • Cost excluded transportation to and from Italy:  725 euros / $822 for 15 days; 34 euros / $48 a day

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th MY FAVORITES


  

Arrival ~ October 3, 2015

  • October 3, 2015
  • Day 26
  • Caminno Day 15
  • Assisi
  • 9 miles
  • Total ascent 2,054 feet and descent 1,969 feet
  • 4 1/4 hours
  • 55 – 75 degrees

Arriving at the gate, “Porta Santa Croce” I am greeted by a fellow Italian Piligrino. In total, I have met nine Italian (seven reunited in Assisi), five Brazilian (stopped walking), two other Americans, and one German (lost contact).  Alas, the Basilica Assisi.

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Assisi