Mary Catherine Kimpton memorial gone? Help? (before Estella)

domparisien · Aug 2, 2023

Is there anyone currently on the Camino Frances near Estella who could look into something for me (or someone who already knows something)? Last year I walked the Camino Frances in May and was asked to stop by the underpass outside of the city to take pictures of the cairn of Mary Catherine Kimpton, a Canadian who died there in 2002 after being struck by a drunk driver. The pictures were for her granddaughter, whom I know. The underpass we all now use to safely bypass that busy road was actually built after her death.

I managed to take some pictures, which she hugely appreciated. However, I was looking over the area again on Google maps (the first picture below, which is from this year) and the cairn is now somehow missing? Timeline pictures show it clearly absent from the spot where it was. This must be a pretty recent development because I spent some time with it last summer.

Does anyone know if it was somehow moved somewhere in the park? The memorial cairn was built by Mary's husband (who has since passed), a bricklayer, and has been there since 2012. It was large, solidly built, with mortar and everything. I'm very confused at how it could be gone. Alex (the granddaughter) is planning on visiting the cairn when she does her own Camino to complete one in memory of her grandmother, and I'm sure it would be devastating to find the cairn gone. Does anyone have any information on this? Was the cairn simply moved farther into the park, closer to the walking path?

The cairn was directly behind the stone wall of the underpass. The exact location is on maps is 42.661263,-2.006956. The Ermita de San Miguel Arcángel is also nearby.

If anyone has any information on this, or is able to take a look in the park, it would be greatly appreciated.

sillydoll · Aug 3, 2023

I have a photo of the cairn on my Memorial blog http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2012/08/memorials-pilgrims-who-died-on-camino.html
Perhaps the Association in Estella would be able to help you with your enquiry.

Formulario de contacto. Asociación los Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Estella

Si tienes alguna pregunta, por favor no dudes en enviarnos un mensaje. Responderemos a la mayor brevedad posible.

www.caminodesantiagoestella.org

geraldkelly · Aug 3, 2023

It was still there about 3 years ago when I saw it but it's no longer on the route of the Camino, it's off to the left where people used to cross the road, now we use the underpass. At least that's my recollection.

Felice · Aug 3, 2023

Looking closely at google streetview, I can locate a number of landmarks shown in your photo, but the cairn seems not to be visible, although it should be. There is also a suspicious pile of cobbles close to where the cairn should be.

In both the photo and street view, the wall of the underpass is clearly visible. Standing in the road, looking at the area, pilgrims enter the ramp down to the underpass from the left. The cairn is beyond the end of the wall on the right. So pilgrims will not notice the cairn unless they look for it.

domparisien · Aug 3, 2023

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

@sillydoll The Association in Estella is a great idea! I'll reach out. Thank you!

@geraldkelly Yes, the cairn was there last summer when I went. The pictures I posted are ones I took. That's why I'm so confused that it's now missing from the Google Street View pictures. It would have been removed/moved very recently.

@Felice I agree. In the most recent Google View picture there's a clear empty patch where it WAS but now it's not there. In the earlier versions it's clearly visible, and it was there last summer when I went.

Mainly, I'm wondering if anyone who is there now has seen it in a different location.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Aug 3, 2023

I found three pictures of the memorial at mapio.net that show a location near a picnic/rest area before the underpass. The location of that is at coordinates 42.66144,-2.00589 and can be seen on this screenshot from the OSMand app; the camino is marked in blue at the bottom.

Here it is on Google Maps:

42°39'41.2"N 2°00'21.2"W

goo.gl

Here are the Mapio links:

·˙·CaminoUli2004·.· Villatuerta - Memorial for Mary Catherine Kimpton

·˙·CaminoUli2004·.·

mapio.net

·˙·CaminoUli2008·.· Villatuerta - Memorial for Mary Catherine Kimpton - click in for more info

·˙·CaminoUli2008·.·

mapio.net

·˙·CaminoUli2004·.· Villatuerta - Memorial for Mary Catherine Kimpton

·˙·CaminoUli2004·.·

mapio.net

CWBuff · Aug 3, 2023

@domparisien
Dominik - this is Allan. We walked together from Foncebadon to Cruz de Ferro and you were telling me about this memorial....
Indeed it would be a devastating news if somehow it "disappeared'. I wish I could give you some news but my next Camino is not in the books for at least 2 more years....
I will Pray that whatever you find (and by default - all of us) will be "good News"
Stay Hopeful and Positive, my friend!

domparisien · Aug 6, 2023

@Rick of Rick and Peg thanks for the lovely pictures

That's definitely where it was when I saw it last year, it just doesn't seem to be there anymore from timeline pictures on Google Maps. That's the part that's perplexing me.

@CWBuff Great to hear from you, Allan! I appreciate the thoughts, and it's very nice to hear from you! Hope all is well with you.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Aug 6, 2023

How about contacting a hospitalero or two before Estella to put up a note with a link to the start of this thread. Maybe you can get coordinates and a video of the approach from an obliging peregrino.

Rocco · May 9, 2024

domparisien said:
Is there anyone currently on the Camino Frances near Estella who could look into something for me (or someone who already knows something)? Last year I walked the Camino Frances in May and was asked to stop by the underpass outside of the city to take pictures of the cairn of Mary Catherine Kimpton, a Canadian who died there in 2002 after being struck by a drunk driver. The pictures were for her granddaughter, whom I know. The underpass we all now use to safely bypass that busy road was actually built after her death.

I managed to take some pictures, which she hugely appreciated. However, I was looking over the area again on Google maps (the first picture below, which is from this year) and the cairn is now somehow missing? Timeline pictures show it clearly absent from the spot where it was. This must be a pretty recent development because I spent some time with it last summer.

Does anyone know if it was somehow moved somewhere in the park? The memorial cairn was built by Mary's husband (who has since passed), a bricklayer, and has been there since 2012. It was large, solidly built, with mortar and everything. I'm very confused at how it could be gone. Alex (the granddaughter) is planning on visiting the cairn when she does her own Camino to complete one in memory of her grandmother, and I'm sure it would be devastating to find the cairn gone. Does anyone have any information on this? Was the cairn simply moved farther into the park, closer to the walking path?

The cairn was directly behind the stone wall of the underpass. The exact location is on maps is 42.661263,-2.006956. The Ermita de San Miguel Arcángel is also nearby.

If anyone has any information on this, or is able to take a look in the park, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sadly, the cairn that her late husband Harry built is now gone, but the plaque has been attached to a low stone wall when near the underpass on the way to Estella. I asked my friend Efren Gonzalez who is currently on the Frances to send me a photo and this is what he sent yesterday.

domparisien · May 9, 2024

Rocco said:
Sadly, the cairn that her late husband Harry built is now gone, but the plaque has been attached to a low stone wall when near the underpass on the way to Estella. I asked my friend Efren Gonzalez who is currently on the Frances to send me a photo and this is what he sent yesterday.

@Rocco I am so grateful to you and Efren for this information. I'm sad to hear the cairn is gone. I'll inform Alex, since it would be good for her to know before she goes looking for it.

I'm glad to know the plaque is still there, though.

Thank you again. I hope Efren is enjoying his Camino.

Rocco · May 9, 2024

He most definitely is. He completed the Plata/Sanabres and is now doing the Frances in reverse on his way to Rome!
Please give my very best to Alex. I knew Mary Catherine and Harry a bit as we both knew Rob Crew of the Toronto Star who inspired us to go on the Camino and we both went within days of each other in 2002. When I returned I learned that she had been killed by a drunk driver and so went back in 2004 to walk the Camino in her name and I got my Compostela "pro vicarie" in her name and brought it to Harry. I am sorry to hear that he has since passed, but am certain that they are now walking the celestial Camino together. RIP.