le Chemin d'Arles vers Saint Jacques de Compostelle

The latest adventure Starting in Arles on 2 April, we walked for 12 days through the Camargue, the vineyards and orchards of the Rhone valley, the gorges of the Herault, the heights and vast pine, oak and beech forests of the Haut Languedoc to Castres. Our guide book put the distance at 308 kilometres. A couple of times when we got lost and deviations to places to stay probably added a few kilometres to that. We found the walk much tougher than the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago which we walked in April last year. This was partly due to the weather - mist, rain and snow - and partly due to the long daily stages - 25 to 30 kilometres - determined by places to stay. At Castres, about a third of the way from Arles to Puenta de la Reina, our original destination still 500 kilometres away - we decided because of the forecast for more bad weather to call it a day. perhaps we will return to walk the rest of the Chemin - from Castres, through Toulouse, Auch and the Somport pass to Puenta de la Reina some other day. Then again, perhaps not. Another day, another walk. For now we're back at home and planning the next adventure (not quite so strenuous perhaps!!). Meantime here are some photos.