- Time of past OR future Camino
- Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022
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A positively glowing and detailed writeup on the accomplishments of this year's ditch pig's! Glad VN asked about it so we all can be "in the know"!Where are the Ditch Pigs? All have reported "home, safe & content".
Where were we? Well we were mostly between Leon & Astorga. Our observers and scouts had told us there was work to be done and they were right.
We "pigged" from just outside Leon: Virgen del Camino to the edge of Astorga via Villadangos; San Martin; Hospital de Orbigo & San Justo racking up some 37km. Same race, different track via Fresno; Chozas de Abajo; Villar de Mazarife; Villavante & Santibanez. 40.5Km. A couple of Pigs cleared the 13km from Caldadilla de la Cueza through to Moratinos 'cos the sun was out and they didn't need to be "home" till Saturday. So we cleaned the senda, and we cleaned the highway, and we cleaned the picnic spots and the toilet spots too. We met locals who told us they cleaned Camino too as it passed through their village or passed their finca. And they did. We could tell when we hit a stretch that someone else was working.
So, 90km this year. 90km described by a veteran pig as "I [...] can honestly say this was the toughest, longest, most grubby stretch of Camino I have taken part in". The pigs this year were the usual mix of Spaniards, expat Spanish residents, tinkers and honest Scots () though anyone is welcome. We were kindly sponsored by various Chapters of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims. Warmly sheltered by Christine in Villares de Orbigo and Reb, Paddy and Ollie at the Peaceable. We paid our airfares and train fares and for the occasional Orujo ( ). We picked up some scratches, bruises, aches & strains and came to the conclusion that we hope that we can do it all again next time.
OK. Some of the stuff we cleared was historic. Some of it was almost archeological. But pigs know that shite attracts shite so if we clear it all away then a little less will accumulate a little more slowly in the future (at least thats the hope and intention).
So. There you go. Another year in the ditch. We know we can't clean the Camino but we know that we have left a bit of Camino cleaner than it was before.
Some random photos below:
View attachment 67266
Is Ditch Pigging by invitation only?
Nah. You just need the time & inclination, a strong stomach and a strange sense of humour.Is Ditch Pigging by invitation only?
Yup! Absolutely. @SYates and I pigged parts of the Ingles in 2018, and this year she lent me a very cool and very light collapsable pick-up claw so I could easily do a bit of cleaning as I walked - though where I walked was mostly litter-free. It's the well--traveled paths that seem to attract the litterbugs.Anyone can be a Ditch Pig, anytime.
Haha. Yeah. right...We have been at this for many years, and people who hang out here for a long time might find us tiresome.
I didn't post a lot about the Pigs in advance this year because we were fully funded by October, and I didn't want to be repetitive and/or be accused of "self promotion," as sometimes happens. We have been at this for many years, and people who hang out here for a long time might find us tiresome.
(which says more about them than us!)
I welcome all volunteers, but I warn them each in advance: The work is very physical and days are long. If you have health troubles or tire easily, this will not be ideal for you. As time goes on and we expand our reach, your ability to speak and understand Spanish is increasingly important (we have Spanish volunteers without English skills, which makes this ideal for people who'd like to sharpen their Castellano!)
I think six people is the ideal number for our purposes, so if you want to Pig next year, please let me know at the end of next summer if you want to join. Slots fill up quickly!
Great work @Rebekah Scott and her Pigs!
For those who can't join because of time, distance, health or whatever, can we at least donate to the funding? Is it this link? and the button at the bottom of the page?
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