Le Puy-en-Velay to Conques, 2017

From May 29 to June 10 2017, we walked this section of Le Chemin de St. Jacques. It is reputed to be this most rigorous and most beautiful section of the whole Camino. We agree that it is the most challenging, although we did save it for last so our age may influence our perception. We would be hard-pressed to name one "most beautiful" section. Nevertheless, it is wonderfully pretty.

Days 1 and 2, Travel Days
Day 3, in Le Puy-en-Velay
Day 4, Walking to Montbonnet
Day 5, Walking to St. Alban
Day 6, Walking to Aumont-Aubrac
Day 7, Onward to Montgros
Day 8, Nasbinals, Aubrac, St. Chely d'Aubrac
Day 9, Walking to St. Come d'Olt
Day 10, Scrambling over Rocks to Estaing
Day 11, off to a Chalet at a campground in Golinac
Day 12, off to Conques
Day 13, in Conques
Days 14 and 15, Travel Days

Figeac to Moissac on the Le Puy Route, 2008

In 2008, from May 14 to 28, we walked about 100 miles of the Via Podensis, the Le Puy Route in France. We flew to Toulouse by way of Paris. Then we took a train to Figeac. We knew little about the Camino when we were planning the trip and decided where we would walk based on the fact that Peg wanted to practice her French and Russ wanted to walk in Spain. Our compromise was to do some of each. We picked Figeac as a starting point in France because it was easier to get to than Le Puy, or so we thought at the time.

We begin Camino Dreaming
Training/Packing
Figeac 1
Figeac 2
Faycelles
Mas de la Croix
Gayfie
Limogne en Quercy 1
Limogne en Quercy 2
On the trail to Vaylats
Vaylats
Mas de Vers
Along the trail to Cahors
Still between Vaylats and Cahors
In Cahors
A Rest Day in Cahors
Leaving Cahors
On to l'Hospitalet
l'Hospitalet to Lascabnes to Escayrac
Montlauzun to Moissac--Rain, Rain!
Ending in France-Beginning in Spain
Maps of our 2008 Trek

Taking up the Route again in 2015
Moissac to Roncesvalles via St. Jean Pied de Port and Orisson

In 2015, we started in Moissac where we had ended in 2008, and walked the rest of the Le Puy route. In May and June, we returned to the gite where we had stayed in Moissac in 2008. The then-baby was a kid now. We walked, with some taxi stints to keep our timing in line, all the way to St. Jean, up and over the Pyrenees through Orisson, and on to Pamplona. From there we flew to Ireland and met up with Pam and James for a week in Doolin before returning home.

We Arrive at the Beginning
Friday -- Squalls, Rainbows, Panoramas, Happy Hour with New Friends
Saturday all day -- and Sunday morning -- and a New Experience
Sunday to Monday noon -- Magic Carpet Ride, Farm to Town
Tuesday and Wednesday -- Mud and a Bit Lost!
Oh What a Beautiful Thursday Morning
Nothing Stays All Good
From the Bohemian to the New Age
Lost in Aquitaine
Short Walk, Big Hills
The Final Days in France
Up and Over the Pyrenees
An Albergue Built for Crowds