Category: Caminos
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Chemin du Puy: Navarrenx to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
From Navarrenx, we headed to Saint-Palais, where we would spend the night. We traversed the bucolic French countryside on a trail with few hills, which was nice for a change. Soon we began to catch glimpses of the Pyrenees in the distance, a particularly bittersweet sight as we would end our 2025 journey there. Saint-Palais:…
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Chemin du Puy: Pimbo to Navarrenx, France
After our night without luggage, we got an early start and set out for Arzacq-Arraziguet. The walk was uneventful, with few notable sights along the way. We arrived in Arzacq-Arraziguet in time for lunch. Arzacq-Arraziguet main plaza looking left. Arzacq-Arraziguet main plaza looking right. Arzacq-Arraziguet private oasis. In Arzacq-Arraziguet, we stayed at the former Maison…
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Chemin du Puy: Condom to Pimbo, France
: The path to Montréal-du-Gers was wet and muddy. This is Dave kindly trying to rid my boots of a thick layer of mud. Larressingle: Larressingle is France’s smallest fortified village, and possibly the cutest. It currently boasts a population of 200 people. The walls are original, unusual for this part of France, which was…
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Day 8 on the Canal du Midi
Saturday, June 3 – Canal du Midi: Caux-et-Sauzens to Carcassonne Our wonderful hostess, Sandrine, concerned we wouldn’t find any food on the way to Carcassonne, prepared a fabulous picnic lunch for us: sandwiches of comté, tomato, zucchini, and cucumber drizzled with local olive oil, along with hard-boiled eggs for snacking if we feel peckish. Made…
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Day 7 on the Canal du Midi
Friday, June 2 – Canal du Midi: Bram to Caux-et-Sauzens We were so sad to leave Bram that we stopped at the boulangerie, the cave à vin (wine store), and the marché. Well, to be honest, these were also practical decisions. We knew we had 10+ miles in front of us, and absolutely no services…
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Day 4 on the Canal du Midi
Tuesday, May 30 – Canal du Midi: Villefranche du Lauragais to Port Lauragais Fearing rain, we headed out at 9am – too soon as we were really enjoying our conversations with Catherine and Dominique, not to mention the freshly made breakfast crêpes and homemade jams! Nonetheless onward we trudged. In a few hours we arrived…
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Day 2 on the Canal du Midi
Sunday, May 28 – Canal du Midi: Ramonville-St-Agne to Baziège (Including all the pictures that were to be included on the last attempt). Martine continued her thoughtful service today with a lovely breakfast tray: At 10:30 we headed out suspecting it would be a grueling day. 13+ miles later, we’re sure. Luckily, we found Donostia,…
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Day 10 – Chemin du Puy: Golinhac to Conques
Monday, May 22 Oh no! Another final day on a camino, with all the bittersweet feelings this entails. Again, we find ourselves ready to be done, yet wishing we weren’t. We spent a good part of the day talking about coming back to finish the Chemin du Puy next year or at least do another…
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Day 9 on the Chemin du Puy: Estaing to Golinhac
Sunday, May 21 Quiet day. Nice hike through woods, lots of up and down. We thought we were going to see the Golinhac dam, which was finished in 1960, but all we saw were a bunch of signs warning walkers to exercise caution in case the dam burst and the waters from the dam’s lake…
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Day 8 on the Chemin du Puy
Saturday, May 20 We had a great stay in Espalion last night. Our room was spacious and even better, had a clothes washer! We took advantage of that as our clothes were in dire need of a good washing. Another light dinner in the room and a good Côtes-du-Rhône Villages. In the morning, our host’s…
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Chemin du Puy: Day 2
Sunday, May 14 – Day 2 on the Chemin du Puy (Mother’s Day in the U.S.) We walked over 12 miles today with some of the most difficult hiking I’ve ever done. The day began with an extremely steep grade and loose rocks, rock faces, and mud everywhere. Thank goodness for walking sticks – they…
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Chemin du Puy: Day 1
Saturday, May 13 – Day 1 on the Chemin du Puy/Via Podiensis Dave woke me up at 6:20 so we could attend the Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of Le Puy. Even though our hotel was located way up high in the village, we still had to climb to the Cathedral. Begun in the 11th…
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Camino Mozárabe
Monday, May 1: Camino Mozárabe begins We had planned to head out early to begin our camino, but we were advised that some of the prettiest walking is on the way into Granada from the east rather than along the way out. We’ve decided to extend our time in Granada and stroll by the river…
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Days 5-8: Puente la Reina-Estella-Los Arcos-Viana
We continue to explore Navarra, a traditionally Basque area, as we travel west along the Camino. We climb several Altos and contemplate structures and statues dedicated to saints, heroes, and humble pilgrims. We are rewarded with wine “for the road” and see vestiges of Navarra’s Roman past. Throughout, we are awed by Spain’s dedication to…
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Days 1-4: Roncesvalles to Zubiri and Pamplona
The beginning of our Camino. Passing through woods where in the 17th century witches gathered, through towns where Hemingway dallied, and over mountain peaks stopping to appreciate nature, and historic and religious monuments.
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Caminos: An Introduction
Why the Camino? With the opportunity to travel at will and without time constraints, we considered where to go. A new continent? A new country? A new city? A remote beach? An adventure trip? We thought about what we wanted out of the trip. Dave wanted an epic adventure. He wanted to mark the end…