Mary Kimpton Memorial Cairn

[haloranch]

When I first walked the Camino France in 2007, I spent a few moments remembering Canadian pilgrim, Mary Kimpton at the cairn that marked the place where she was killed by a car near Estella in 2002. When I walked that section again in 2011, I noticed that the Spanish authorities had built an underpass near that location. Unfortunately by so doing they have made it virtually impossible to see the memorial since one descends down a ramp to cross underneath highway N111 before getting to the memorial. It should really be moved or a sign indicating its location might be helpful so that more pilgrims can pay their respect.

Haloranch

 

[Abbeydore]

When I first walked the Camino France in 2007, I spent a few moments remembering Canadian pilgrim, Mary Kimpton at the cairn that marked the place where she was killed by a car near Estella in 2002. When I walked that section again in 2011, I noticed that the Spanish authorities had built an underpass near that location. Unfortunately by so doing they have made it virtually impossible to see the memorial since one descends down a ramp to cross underneath highway N111 before getting to the memorial. It should really be moved or a sign indicating its location might be helpful so that more pilgrims can pay their respect.

Haloranch

could be a nice project to organise a sign, & have Canadian pilgrims having got permission to erect it.
Good Luck
David

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15498683
http://www.santiago.ca/mck.html

 

[tallrobert]

I'd like to stop here and pay my respects here to this fallen pilgrim. I too am from Canada and will be walking by Estella in May, almost 10 years after this sad tragedy. Considering the new underpass mentioned above, can anyone give some direction to me on how to find this cairn? Thanks.

 

[miguel_gp]

I'd like to stop here and pay my respects here to this fallen pilgrim

Robert, a very touching gesture.

I have not passed this area myself but this appears to be the site of the Cairn, as located on Google Maps. http://g.co/maps/vgrnc. From the aerial view, the Camino path appears to go from right to left, so the Cairn would be on your left hand side before crossing under the road.

Maybe this could be confirmed by a forum member who has travelled this path recently.

Regards
Mig

 

[tallrobert]

Hi Mig,
Thanks for the link, that's very helpful.

I am interested to know if anyone can reference where the underpass is in reference to the cairn. I am guessing that's where I would have to veer off the path to get to the cairn?

Slightly off topic...the Google Street View link was cool. Can you "walk" the route frances on street view?
Robert

 

[miguel_gp]

No I don't think you can walk the entire route. A lot of It would be inaccessible to the camera vehicle but there are many parts of all the Camino Routes that are covered particularly through towns and cities. I opened a thread with a couple of examples a few weeks back miscellaneous-topics/topic13075.html

 

[tallrobert]

I am in Los Arcos today. Yesterday as promised, I looked for this memorial cairn and I was happy to find it just off the path, just before the new underpass after Villatuerta. I was worried that it might have been a little too hard to find but that was not the case. I brought from home a little Canadian flag and placed it on the memorial. I took some photos but I am not able to upload them just now.

Visiting this place gave me an opportunity to spent five minutes there reflecting on life and how fast it can change... or leave us. I am grateful that I was able to find this place and pay respects to this lady who was struck by a car and died... it was ten years ago tomorrow (June 2).

I was also able to inform the three Canadian ladies on the camino just behind me of the location of the cairn. I had spotted them a day or two before as we all have the camino forum badge on our packs.

Embrace life and live it to its fullest. We do not know, any one of us, when its precious gift will be snatched away. OneLove.

 

[miguel_gp]

Robert,
I am so pleased that you found the cairn and made this gesture and also passed on the information to other pilgrims, should they want to pay their respects.

Buen Camino, Amigo
Mig