The oddest thing I have seen while walking the Camino

The Austrian · Mar 8, 2017

Now that it's been covered what crazy things we have seen people bring for their journey, let's take a stab at that odd head scratching moment while walking.

For me it was on the ascend to O Cebreiro when all of a sudden this Mercedes comes barreling down hill on what clearly was beyond an off road path. The driver stopped and asked me (in broken English) if he can get all the way down to some main road this way. I explained to him that further down the path there would be steps he'd have to get over and I don't think it being possible. He just shrugged and went anyway.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNjamh8js0p/?taken-by=austriannomad

Honorary mention to the road side chop shop.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/roadside-chop-shop.6131/

Aurigny · Mar 8, 2017

Outside Touginhó, I came across one of those road signs indicating: "roundabout ahead."

What's odd about that? Well, it was in the middle of a field. Surrounded by cows. Not a road in sight.

Photograph below.

Anniesantiago · Mar 9, 2017

Lady Gaga's Sheep?
Outside in the pasture at Sta. Celia on the Aragones Route.

jmcarp · Mar 9, 2017

I'd say the Coke machine in the middle of the woods between Triacastela and Sarria.

Aurigny · Mar 9, 2017

Holy cow. From where does it get its electricity? Or does it just sit there as a decoration, taunting the thirsty?

Kanga · Mar 9, 2017

The road really did get narrow....

jmcarp · Mar 9, 2017

Aurigny said:
Holy cow. From where does it get its electricity? Or does it just sit there as a decoration, taunting the thirsty?

There was a wire leading down to a building a couple of hundred yards away and almost not visible from the machine. It was indeed operational, and my wife and I shared an ice-cold Coke while eating an apple at a picnic table near the machine.

Theatregal · Mar 9, 2017

I think one of the oddest things was the road of abandoned shoes, on the Portuguese (Coastal) near Esposende. For about a kilometre along a dirt road, there were hundreds of old shoes, some partially buried, some arranged along the side of the road, some flattened in the middle of the road. At first it was just odd, then it became quite creepy. There were no buildings nearby - I was very happy to leave this strange stretch of the walk that day, behind.

Theatregal · Mar 9, 2017

And then there was this sign.... Outskirts of Santiago.

Pelegrin · Mar 9, 2017

Theatregal said:
And then there was this sign.... Outskirts of Santiago.

Many Spanish pilgrims must read "Man toilet" because in Spanish "Servicio" could mean "Toilet".

Bradypus · Mar 9, 2017

In a village east of Burgos last September

Bradypus · Mar 9, 2017

Dinosaurs must be fairly common in Spain. Back in January 2015 I spotted this one on the Camino Ingles near Bruma. Photo by @andy.d who was with me at the time.

VNwalking · Mar 9, 2017

Stumbling across an old Hollywood set in the middle of nowhere between Santo Domingo de Silos and Covarrubias (on an alternative route, rather than the Ebro/Ruta de Lana). It was surreal.
If you're a fan of old Hollywood Westerns, this is quite the place (I'm not, but it was still quite the place).

JabbaPapa · Mar 9, 2017

jmcarp said:
I'd say the Coke machine in the middle of the woods between Triacastela and Sarria.

There used to be a LOT more of them ...

Anniesantiago · Mar 9, 2017

Kanga said:
The road really did get narrow....

View attachment 32376

We need a laugh button!

AbbyDee · Mar 9, 2017

jmcarp said:
I'd say the Coke machine in the middle of the woods between Triacastela and Sarria.

I bet it was a most welcome sight to some, though!

Davey Boyd · Mar 9, 2017

Bradypus said:
In a village east of Burgos last September

View attachment 32387

Yes this was in Orbaneja when I walked through last year, when I walked back a few months later it had gone. Gave me a surprise too!

Kanga · Mar 9, 2017

@VNwalking ; the "Sad Hill Cemetery". Marvellous

Elizabeth Cheung · Mar 9, 2017

Theatregal said:
And then there was this sign.... Outskirts of Santiago.

So... how was the service? ;-)

VNwalking · Mar 10, 2017

Kanga said:
@Viranani; the "Sad Hill Cemetery". Marvellous

@Kanga, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I stood there for a while, just gaping--and laughing. Of all unexpected things! I just posted a pic on @alexwalker 's thread of what I had just been walking through. It was truly a journey from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Glenshiro · Mar 11, 2017

Last year, early one morning on a muddy track south of Aire sur l'Adour, I was overtaken by a man on a unicycle. I did manage to get a quick photo before he disappeared into the distance (and down a very steep hill with a stream at the bottom.) I caught up with him the following day. He was French, and intent on unicycling all the way to Santiago.

Hiawatha · Mar 11, 2017

Aurigny said:
Outside Touginhó, I came across one of those road signs indicating: "roundabout ahead."

The sign may have been used to indicate a ' SWER ' line on the pole it is attached to . Single Wire , Earth Return electrical systems are used widely in rural areas and are very efficient, they use the earth itself to transmit the neutral phase of the power . There are some hazards associated with digging and other practices immediately next to the pole though .
The round about sign does well to graphically explain the course of the current involved .
Males are encouraged not to relieve themselves at such a site

Kanga · Mar 12, 2017

Yes, I've also encountered a unicyclist, on the way out of Estella. He'd "cycled" a long way, I think all the way from northern Europe somewhere. He was a very fit young man.

.

mspath · Jun 22, 2017

Viranani said:
Stumbling across an old Hollywood set in the middle of nowhere between Santo Domingo de Silos and Covarrubias (on an alternative route, rather than the Ebro/Ruta de Lana). It was surreal.
If you're a fan of old Hollywood Westerns, this is quite the place (I'm not, but it was still quite the place).

For an update re the volunteer restoration of this, the Sad Hill cemetery, see this Guardian article.

Anemone del Camino · Jun 22, 2017

Kanga said:
Yes, I've also encountered a unicyclist, on the way out of Estella. He'd "cycled" a long way, I think all the way from northern Europe somewhere. He was a very fit young man.

.View attachment 32434

I think he deserves two compostellas for this!

Mckarash · Jun 23, 2017

Viranani said:
Stumbling across an old Hollywood set in the middle of nowhere between Santo Domingo de Silos and Covarrubias (on an alternative route, rather than the Ebro/Ruta de Lana). It was surreal.
If you're a fan of old Hollywood Westerns, this is quite the place (I'm not, but it was still quite the place).

A lot of the movie The Good the Bad and the Ugly was filmed around Burgos. My favourite film.

VNwalking · Jun 24, 2017

mspath said:
For an update re the volunteer restoration of this, the Sad Hill cemetery, see this Guardian article.

Mckarash said:
A lot of the movie The Good the Bad and the Ugly was filmed around Burgos. My favourite film.

I stumbled upon it totally by accident. Then stood there shaking my head, both bemused and blown away by the weirdness if it. I was a bit too young to be into the movie when it came out, and never much liked westerns anyway. But I always really liked the title.
Thank you, Margaret, for that link!

OK, Frances peregrinos and peregrinas. You want a change of scenery and some peace and quiet? Maybe you're a fan of spaghetti westerns? Get yourself up to Santo Domingo de Silos (There's a bus every afternoon and places to stay, even an albergue); enjoy the quiet, the very special vespers and matins at the monastery, and the next morning take yourself on foot on the GR82 to Covarrubias (an alternative to the Ruta de Lana, which goes another way). Along the way there it is! Sad Hill Cemetery, in all its glory. After Covarrubias, it's 2 1/2 or 3 day amble back to Burgos on the gorgeous Camino San Olav, or 2 on the the Lana.

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