Lescar to Anoye, 35 km More than just hills! I set out at 0815 in glorious sunshine - although it was chilly. Definitely time to switch out the toque and gloves from the quick access pocket in my sac à dos and replace them with sunscreen and sunglasses! Sadly the route did not match the … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 11: Il a fait beau aujourd’hui. Enfin
Author: 2saunter
In 2009, we embarked on a one-year family sailing adventure aboard a Grand Soleil 39, "SV Mulan". Our original sailing blog is linked on this site.
In 2017, Susan, Andrew, Sam & Max walked the Camino Frances from St-Jean-Pied-de-Porte to Santiago de Compostella (and rode bikes from Burgos to Leon as a blister recovery strategy), and in 2018 Jack also joined the crew as we waled the northern section of the Camino Portuguese from Porto to S de C.
In 2019 Andrew, accompanied by Max for the first few hundred kms, and Susan for the Tiscan section, walked the via francigena from Canterbury to Rome. That journey is blogged in this site.
This blog is planned as an alternative to the endless instagram posts used previously to communicate with those interested in our travels - although there is a linked instagram account as well!
Via Tolosana day 10: packing a ponch (o)
Oloron (Lindtville) to Lescar, 31.5 km Departing Oloron - the Cathedral of Sainte Marie in the distance. You will perhaps note in the above photo that the streets are dry, and they stayed that way for the entire day. The poncho was packed, and at one point I even broke out in a sweat, as … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 10: packing a ponch (o)
Via Tolosana day 9: free chocolate
Sarrance to Oloron-Sainte-Marie, 20.5 km The church at the Sarrance Monastery. Looking very sad in the morning gloom. Another poncho day, but at least the deluge heard on the monastery roof last night had eased to heavy drizzle. The weather had, however, made the trails rather treacherous - especially the first section. Care was needed, … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 9: free chocolate
Via Tolosana day 8: poncho time
Urdos to Sarrance, 26 km Despite stepping out fully ponchoed against the deluge, I considered myself fortunate to have come over the pass yesterday. There's no way I would be attempting it in today's weather. The two Mexican pèlerins who I shared the albergue with were busy consulting the bus timetable to get over the … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 8: poncho time
Via Tolosana day 7: taking a pass on the trail
Canfranc Estachion to Urdos, 20.6 km (including 400m up and 800m down!) The view from the top. I walked on the road from where it appears in the middle distance. The walk up to the pass was mostly pleasant. I was happy to leave Canfranc Estachion, where all the people I interacted with seemed less … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 7: taking a pass on the trail
Via Tolosana day 6: Closed….. on Mondays, until April, until 20h
Jaca to Canfranc Estachion, 24 km Canfranc Estachion (half of it) I was expecting a long hard slog up into the mountains, but the day was actually quite pleasant for walking - until the wind picked up around noon - and the distance was about 6 km less than I had planned for, which was … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 6: Closed….. on Mondays, until April, until 20h
Via Tolosana day 5: timing is nearly everything
Arres to Jaca, 25 km That would be snow on the rooftop While it should probably have been included in yesterday's post, my evening with the two hospitaleros (plus one other Spanish peligrina) was quite entertaining. One had the thickest Spanish accent - as if he's been a two pack per day smoker for his … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 5: timing is nearly everything
Via Tolosana day 4: recovery day (not to be confused with a rest day)
Artieds to Arres, 18km The road less travelled: no place for pereginos in runners! It could have been a really pleasant day's walk, crossing broad tracts of farmland on the edges of the river valley. However, the relentless wind was energy sapping, although judging by the clouds building up on the French side of the … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 4: recovery day (not to be confused with a rest day)
Via Tolosana day 3: A day in ruins
Sanguesa to Artieda, 32.5km. Ruesta, the normal night stop. The only buildings not in ruins are the albergue and restaurant. Maybe the revenue from these are helping finance the preservation work. I figured I would change it up a bit and add titles to the posts. Plus trying to come up with an appropriate heading … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 3: A day in ruins
Via Tolosana day 2: Monreal to Sanguesa, 28km
Farmland and wind turbines (you'll need to zoom in!) A few more klicks than ideal on the second day out, but the distance was a minor factor as the weather was downright nasty. A forecast "high" of 4⁰, but with wind gusts up to 65 kmh, the wind chill temperature was -7⁰. Fortunately the wind … Continue reading Via Tolosana day 2: Monreal to Sanguesa, 28km
2saunter 