St Guilhem is Grabels, 34.9 km It should have been less than 35 km, but I wasn't paying attention at the 31 km mark and I walked to the gîte in the centre of the town, when the gîte I had a reservation at was 1.8 km before the centre. At least the section I … Continue reading Via Tolosana/ voie d’Arles day 31: Gorgeous
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/ voie d’Arles day 30: rollercoaster
St Jean de la Blaquière to St Guilhem le Désert , 23.4km The rocks from yesterday's post, viewed from the other side! One of the toughest days on this camino, and while the kilometers are not outrageous, the hills are a challenge. Being my day 30 meant it wasn't perhaps as bad as for those … Continue reading Via Tolosana/ voie d’Arles day 30: rollercoaster
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 29: a lighter load
Lodève to St Jean de la Blaquière, 19.6 km The slowest 50m of the 743,300m walked so far. Even death cookies are preferable! I got to the top of the hill before it started raining. Taking my pack off to extract my poncho was when I realized that I'd left my water bottles in the … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 29: a lighter load
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 28: the long and short of it
Lunas to Lodève, 19.2 km It was calling my name! Nice drop, at the extravagant sum of CAD 7.50 I shared it with my gîte mates. Despite the pleading of my hosts in Lunas, I skulked out of town on the alternative route. While the traditional route is, well, more traditional, the extra two hours … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 28: the long and short of it
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 27: the going got tougher
Saint Gervais to Lunas, 28.6 km Not the pèlerin gîte in Lunas! One of the toughest days on this camino, no matter which way you are headed. Along the way somewhere you gain 700m in altitude, only to lose it by the time you reach your destination. I timed my departure to allow a visit … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 27: the going got tougher
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 26: when the going gets tough
Murat sur Vèbre to Saint Gervais sur Mare, 23.3 km Standing room only. The tree is hollow, but still alive! What should have been a relatively easy day turned out to be quite demanding - but not as demanding for me as it is for the folks going the other way. They had the 650m … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 26: when the going gets tough
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 25: Goldilocks (but no bears)
La Salvetat sur Agout to Murat sur Vèbre, 22.5 km Shepherd's hut in the forest, but maybe the restored hit predates the forest ( unless French sheep eat acorns) It was a very pleasant day walking: not too hot, not too cold; not too far but just far enough; not too steep and not too … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 25: Goldilocks (but no bears)
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 24: heading towards the hills
Anglès to La Salvetat sur Agout, 19.6 km Greenery! A very pleasant day and at only 19 km, it felt like a rest day. I was in no rush to leave, so a visit to the local bakery, which was only a 3 minute walk from the gîte, provided a fresh baguette for breakfast. The … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 24: heading towards the hills
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 23: Forester
Castres to Anglès, 33.2 km Typical of today's scenery It was not originally my intent to do another 30+ day, but the accommodation I had planned to stay at was "undeliverable" when contacted via email. I anticipated a 37 km day, but fortunately that turned out to be slightly high. What was also slightly high … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 23: Forester
Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 22: from famine to feast!
Abbaye Sainte Scholastique to Castres, 21.8 km The L'Agoût river, which flows through Castres An interesting day, as with no phone for navigation, I had to trust the accuracy of the trail markings, and concentrate on actually seeing said markings. I had my phone shut off completely so that the few remaining battery percentages could … Continue reading Via Tolosana/voie d’Arles day 22: from famine to feast!
2saunter 