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  1. AlwynWellington

    Reserve your rooms in advance!

    I started from Le Puy-en-Velay early April 2016, paused at Estella / Lizarra early May 2016. I returned there early in October 2017 and arrived at Compostela later the same month. I booked ahead only twice. I made my first booking on arrival at Lauzerte. This was for two nights at Moissac...
  2. AlwynWellington

    Camino from Le Puy en Velay to Saint Jean Pied de Port in November

    Most certainly. that might help.
  3. AlwynWellington

    Camino from Le Puy en Velay to Saint Jean Pied de Port in November

    I can not comment on closures on the tops across the plateau. I walked from Le Puy in April 2016. The heavens had opened the day before and a few paths that first day had minor streams ... The day before Nasbinals, I noticed very slender red poles, about 2 metres high, beside the road. They...
  4. AlwynWellington

    Accommodation Terminology. Does Gite = Albergue?

    Short answer = NO As @timr says at post #xx above, "gite" is a movable feast. Gite d'etape in France similar to Albergue in Spain = a pilgrim style hostel. Gite (plus other qualifiers) might be a hotel or motel or tourist quality accommodation. Kia ora @Robo, kia kaha.
  5. AlwynWellington

    Le Puy to Conques - May 6, 2023 start

    Kia ora @MissWOR (greetings and trust you are well) I apologise for the distraction. As to Chambres d'hôtes, I can only reiterate my first advice: . Rather than get everything locked into place now, I suggest: . b) each morning talk with your hostess, decide what is doable that day, have her...
  6. AlwynWellington

    Le Puy to Conques - May 6, 2023 start

    The thing about hills is this: when you are striding up one you can always pause for a few moments and look back to see what you have achieved those many many kilometres away. The only time, in my experience, where you can look ahead with clarity is at Arthez-de-Béarn. On this hill top...
  7. AlwynWellington

    Le Puy to Conques - May 6, 2023 start

    @MissWOR, kia ora (greetings, hope you are well) First up: we are all different. In our abilities when starting. In our interests: what we stop and look at. Because of my work and local training, when en route I was up before dawn and underway most days, at or before dawn. A way to achieve...
  8. AlwynWellington

    What Does 'WC' Mean in Cicerone Guidebook of Via Podiensis?

    I am conscious of two derivations of this word. Others may have more. 1) As spelt - England Even in recent years I have heard some say "Waterloo" and indicate towards the "throne room" 2) As heard (and written) - Scotland In the tenements of the Wynds of Edinburgh with the multistorey...
  9. AlwynWellington

    What Does 'WC' Mean in Cicerone Guidebook of Via Podiensis?

    I refer you to Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and the list of 25 things to see. This story is about the Frideswide Window. When walking Thames Path in 2016 I was in the queue to get a ticket to look around the public part of Christ Church College, including the Cathedral. An usher spotted...
  10. AlwynWellington

    What Does 'WC' Mean in Cicerone Guidebook of Via Podiensis?

    In my really early years, all my relatives house in the city above mine had outdoor loos. It was customary to take your own reading matter, which you used appropriately when finished.
  11. AlwynWellington

    Comparing Difficulty: Le Puy-Conques vs Lucca-Rome on the Via Francigena

    Despite my advanced years, I've managed to get a good level of fitness (today I'm focused on completing a 40 km stroll complete with all my long distance gear) with two hillocks of 150 m asl to get over. My home, at 90 m asl, is just on 2 km from the sea. Other features close by and a bit...
  12. AlwynWellington

    Comparing Difficulty: Le Puy-Conques vs Lucca-Rome on the Via Francigena

    First up, nearly all my daily sections well and truly exceeded 25 km, often by a good margin. So some of my difficulties may be explained by weariness towards the end of the day and or heat of the day. The decent from Nasinbals to Come d'Alt was tiresome (Saint John has this as two stages)...
  13. AlwynWellington

    Via Podiensis

    I came, I turned around, I saw, I turned back and continued on my way. In early April I had left Livinhac-le-haut headings towards Figeac and beyond. In the vicinity of Saint-Felix I noticed a couple emerging from a car ahead of me and begin walking towards me. As we drew abreast we stopped...
  14. AlwynWellington

    4 most beautiful days on Podiensis

    My suggestion is to start at Le Puy and walk to Nasbinals: 22 km - Le Puy to Privat d'Allier 18 km - to Sauges 14 km - to Chazeau 13 km - to Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole These are relatively short stages - 67 km in total. This could be done in 3 days by combining the last three stages. You...
  15. AlwynWellington

    4 most beautiful days on Podiensis

    I did take this way up - about 1.1 km to la Croix Magne I have since found an easier variant. Cross Pont Valentre Turn right and walk about 100 metres Turn left up the D27 - about 2.4 km to "la croix Magne" Kia kaha (take care, be strong)
  16. AlwynWellington

    By wheelchair from Le Puy to Rocamadour

    Bon route, kia kaha
  17. AlwynWellington

    Starting slowly on the Le Puy route

    @Kitsambler, kia ora (thank you.) I was introduced to zigzag paths at a very early age. My first home was at the same level as the local village shops, about 50 metres directly across from us. Another house and a then fire station prevented as just walking in a semi circle along the ridge...
  18. AlwynWellington

    Starting slowly on the Le Puy route

    In English I would use "zigzag" Merriam-Webster says "one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a course"
  19. AlwynWellington

    Accommodations and Services on the Le Puy Route

    @Dave, a simply brilliant piece of work. I tried something similar before I left, using guide books available to me. But no where near as comprehensive as you have achieved. The feed back I would give is: a) have you considered showing km between each locality listed and the cumulative km b)...
  20. AlwynWellington

    The Tympanum in Conques- slightly comical, an education

    Tym'pa'num (architecture and anatomy, plural tympana) and Tim'pa'ni (the large percussion instruments in symphony orchestras) come from the same Latin and Greek roots for drum. In architecture we normally only see a semi-circle, as at Conques and, later, at Moissac. And, of course, at...

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