Tag: Trail Markers

Trail Blazers ~ June 4, 2016

  • Saturday, June 4, 2016
  • Day 35, Day 32 (Camino)
  • Estialescq
  • Distance: 14 1/2 miles (10% tarmac) 465 total miles
  • Ascent 2,007 feet and descent 1,685 feet
  • Time: 7 1:2 hours
  • Weather: 65-78 degrees, overcast

“Trail Blazers,” volunteers who enhance the markings along The Way by attaching red and white candy-cane stripped flagging tape to trees.

They kindly gave me “first-hand” information how to stage the coming days. It’s the Camino. Help is there.

  1. Towards Estialescq
  2. Towards Estialescq
  3. Towards Estialescq

“By” ~ June 1, 2016

  • Wednesday, June 1, 2016
  • Day 32 (Day 29 Camino)
  • Maubourguet
  • Distance: 11 miles (80% tarmac) 414 total miles
  • Ascent 1,027 feet and descent 970 feet
  • Time: 7 hours
  • Weather: 60-70 degrees, Cloudy. 16 mph wind

You’ve got to be kidding! The signs take me to the water’s edge and I’m sinking in mud. I can see the painted sign on the tree across the stream.

Think…Re-read guide. “Cross wooded stream by flat concrete telegraph pole .”

“By” did not mean beside. “By” meant using.

“Flat” did not mean non-circular. “Flat” meant not standing.

  1. Towards Maubourguet
  2. Towards Maubourguet
  3. Towards Maubourguet

Miam Miam Dodo ~ May 16, 2016

  • Monday, May 16, 2016
  • Day 16 (Day 13 Camino)
  • Anglès
  • Distance: 12 miles (5% tarmac) 191 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 1,521 feet and descent 1,432 feet
  • Time: 5 1/4 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, breezy blue skies with clouds

The third of three guides in French. “Miam Miam Dodo” (Yum, Yum, Good Night) is a great resource for accommodations, maps with The Way marked, and services (ATM, train or bus stations, food stores, pharmacies, post offices, food markets, boulangeies, (bread bakeries), charcuterie (butchers).

Regretfully I don’t read French; but, I smile a lot.

  1. Anglès
  2. Anglès
  3. Anglès
  4. Anglès


English Guide Book ~ May 16, 2016

  • Monday, May 16, 2016
  • Day 16 (Day 13 Camino)
  • Anglès
  • Distance: 12 miles (5% tarmac) 191 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 1,521 feet and descent 1,432 feet
  • Time: 5 1/4 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, breezy blue skies with clouds

“Pilgrim Guides to the roads through France to Santiago de Compostela,” “I. Arles to Toulouse ” and “II. Toulouse to Puente la Reina.” Two of three guides carried. Though written in English, many terms, descriptions, and details are French.

  1. Anglès
  2. Anglès
  3. Anglès

Beginning Day ~ May 16, 2016

  • Monday, May 16, 2016
  • Day 16 (Day 13 Camino)
  • Anglès
  • Distance: 12 miles (5% tarmac) 191 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 1,521 feet and descent 1,432 feet
  • Time: 5 1/4 hours
  • Weather: 50-60 degrees, breezy blue skies with clouds

Beginning the day.

  1. Anglès – Gîte d’étape communal
  2. Towards Anglès – classic painted “balisage” (markers) being replaced by metal reflective signs
  3. Towards Anglès – newer metal reflective signs

Knowing the Way ~ May 12, 2016

  • Thursday, May 12, 2016
  • Day 12 (Day 9 Camino)
  • Lunas
  • Distance: 16 1/2 miles (5% tarmac) 131 1/2 total miles
  • Ascent 2,778 feet and descent 2,414 feet
  • Time: 7 hours
  • Weather: 60 – 79 degrees, blue skies with clouds

Knowing which way to go is as important as knowing which way not to go.

  1. Towards Lunas – Turn right
  2. Towards Lunas – Cairn marking the way and symbol for “go straight”
  3. Towards Lunas – Wrong turn

Dashed Hopes ~ 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

Dashed hopes of arriving to the Assisi Basilica clean.  My muddy boots feel like lead weights.  As the saying goes, “A pound on your feet is like five pounds on your back.”  Keep following the signs to Assisi.

  • 1st, 2nd towards Assisi
  • 3rd, 4th same corner towards Assisi


  

Test ~ October 2, 2015

  • October 2, 2015
  • Day 25
  • Caminno Day 14
  • Valfabbrica
  • 16 1/2 miles
  • Total ascent 1,979 feet and descent 3,167 feet
  • 8 1/4 hours
  • 55 – 78 degrees light rain last hour

Test your skill at finding clues. See the clue? On the lower right is a rock with a green dot of paint. Like the children’s book, Where’s Waldo,?  clues are hidden everywhere.  It becomes a game finding clues. If you don’t play this game well, you may end up walking extra miles.

  • 1st, 2nd test towards Valfabbrica
  • 3rd,4th towards Valfabbrica


  

Fork ~ October 2, 2015

  • October 2, 2015
  • Day 25
  • Caminno Day 14
  • Valfabbrica
  • 16 1/2 miles
  • Total ascent 1,979 feet and descent 3,167 feet
  • 8 1/4 hours
  • 55 – 78 degrees light rain last hour

Fork in the road. Which way? See the clues on the upper right section of the first pictured road?  The signature arrow, albeit only made of unpainted wood and not mounted on a tree or post, is there.  The arrow and a rock with a dot of green paint are carefully placed clues for the watchful eye.

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd towards Valfabbrica