Pilgrims on the Way

It was a beautiful day for a walk, and the kilometers flew by. The terrain and walking surfaces were very similar to the morning, although one bit of downhill roadwalking was steep enough that I questioned its suitability for motor vehicles. At about 2:15, Nina and I caught our first view of today’s destination: the city of Figeac. Date: 29 August […]

As Nina and I walked on, we were met by these two fuzzy pilgrims, who were apparently walking the Camino backward. Perhaps they were heading home after a long adventure. They said not a word to us as they passed, though I did greet them with a bon chemin. This is probably one of my favourite Camino critter photos of […]

As Nina and I chatted, the kilometers flew by. Almost before I knew it, we were in the village of Saint-Jean-Mirabel. Here, we found a plinth in the middle of the road with this larger-than-life-sized statue of Saint Joan of Arc. Just around the corner, there was another piece of public art, a giant red bicycle. It looked about the […]

I first met Nina on the 25th, about four days before we took this selfie after our picnic lunch from the food truck behind the church. We ran into each other several times over those days, and even stayed at the same gîte. I would end up walking with her for most of this afternoon. Nina and I had some […]

At about noon, I arrived in the village of Saint-Félix. Here in 1944 the Nazis massacred many of the civilians of the town – on one occasion using howitzers – because of a suspected Maquis cell in the village. When I visited the church I discovered that while Saint Felix is depicted, the church is actually dedicated to Sainte-Radegonde. I ran […]

That morning the Camino passed cornfields, meadows, large irrigation ponds, and some small villages. Sometimes, though, this was my view. It very much reminded me of the walks that Francine and I take through Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. After the steep hills of earlier in the day, this was pleasant and easy. Date: 29 August 2023 Place: between Montredon […]

Just about 11 in the morning, the Camino took me through the first cornfield I’d seen in France. It would not be the last. Although I would pass by (or through!) them every so often over the next few weeks, there would come a time towards the end of the French portion of my walk where it was nothing but […]

Normally the signage on France’s GR (grande randonnée) hiking routes are straightforward blazes, usually red and white. The system is simple and elegant, but sometimes you need to convey a little more information than which direction to turn. This sign, with its notice of a “dangerous road section”, was very helpful indeed. Date: 29 August 2023 Place: between Montredon and […]

It’s worth taking a look at the ceiling over the altar in the little Chapelle Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Guirande. The murals most probably date to the building work done in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the center, we see Christ seated in majesty. Below Him, to the left is the martyrdom of Saint Namphase, holding his entrails, while to the […]