Tag 17: St.Jeures (F)-Le-Puy-En-Velay (F), 10 am, -4 ° C
again today comes a long day, I am at my first destination, Le-Puy-en-Velay. I have three goals that I want to see you and I look forward to:
first
Le-Puy-en-Velay because it is the historic gathering place for pilgrims from southern Germany and the countries in the Alps.
second
Burgos because it has a fantastic cathedral. Burgos is unimaginable for me so far away on foot, it seems almost unreal to run, want to go there. And when you are there, it's just a way station. This idea fascinates me.
third
Leon because it has a nice name - and also a beautiful cathedral.
to Santiago de Compostela itself, I do not have a internal relationship or expectations, I have also informed me about not special. Neither of the other places in between. I would like to save me for his own experience. In preparation I was rather important, as I have mentally set to run all the way to. Also, as we can without harm as a family with young children a long separation. Finally, my equipment was very important. I want to take any risks such as me to bargain for incorrect shoes serious foot problems or to get my clothes because of poor pulmonary inflammation.
Everything else will tell.
The landscape changed, is harsher.
The landscape of the Velay
is marked by volcanism. I think the first witnesses of whom have a suspect in front of me and a crater in the forest top.
Araules , Région Auvergne, Haute-Loire. I am very early closed the road that day, everything is in place yet.
Santiago1551 km. The mileage data now appear to be consistent and in line with my estimates.
lonely homesteads on the road. In most Towns and farms are dogs that bark at you and extensively passersby. The majority are on leash or confined to their farms. Only rarely stray dog or are on the street outside the courts. I have so far not had any problems with the dogs, but I am cautious.
It must have been cold in his last time with many snowfalls. The snow is knee-deep when I leave the track.
I've also run the first time. Four dogs from two adjacent farms rob me shortly after the court's attention in the previous picture. They come in races from their farms and increase the follows into their threatening gestures that I left out of sheer and right turn strike the wrong way. Hunting dogs have an interesting strategy. They are distributed on all sides, then someone comes from behind, with slightly less than the yapping from the front. They came no closer than two feet of me, but with teeth showing and a lot of hair places. Whether this safe distance, or just lay on my roar respect for people, I know they will not. To
not again vorbeizumüssen the mutts, I'm a supposed to shortcut way back on track. It cost me but then half an hour to find the path. And trudge too much strength to sprint without snow.
Today I'm on the highest point of the Via Gebennensis and cross the mountain range
Massif du Meygal .
The pass at the place
Raffy 1276 Hm, a cross-country skiing area.
The pass is behind me. With my right foot is something wrong. When lifting of the foot I have a dull pain in the shin and ankle. I try to treat with early position while walking the foot some rest. According to Le-Puy is out there so all downhill, I console myself. That the landscape is very prominent, conceal myself in front of me.
Looking at the landscape goes to my heart. The volcanoes are now definitely!
Queyrières , 285 inhabitants. Here, too, I encounter a couple of dogs. I'm ready for tomorrow with dogs that have previously cost me half an hour. This corresponds to smooth 2 km! When they fly a few chunks of ice and rocks around the ears, they go to great distance. Aha, so it goes here.
Gusseiserenes cross on the church in the village.
The small church in Queyrières is closed. I go around the corner, and believe my eyes:
Right in the city next to the church a basalt organ! One of my dream
geological objects. Perfectly hexagonal-shaped rocks, put together like glue. It is crystallized magma that solidifies in a crater. The vent itself, aussenrum was removed by erosion. The basalt in the interior is much harder, and thus remained available.
A wonderful miracle of nature!
look back at Queyrières. In addition to live a basalt organ is certainly something special. Direct polarity with the Earth's interior.
Then it goes downhill.
The usual signposts; here in the doubles. Shell and GR65-Markiereung.
This is not
a creek bed. This is actually the St. James. In the valley the snow melts. The water can not seep into the frozen ground, and flows from the surface.
Another volcano. The snow in lower elevations melted a large extent.
The slate is also of volcanic origin. Two old trucks, as they were used for the transport of the split pieces standing on the roadside. The large wheels to prevent the cars remain stuck in any small or medium-sized pothole.
In my mind's eye I see such cars in the plague. A dissolute person with his clothes torn to collect a dead to bury them. I must have at some time have seen such presentations.
A simple stone cross with a corpus.
St-Julien-Chapteuil , Région Auvergne Haute-Loire, 1800 inhabitants, is situated on 815 Hm
From a distance I see the imposing church on a volcano. The namesake of the village church, Saint Julien
dates from the 12th century, a font is even from the 8th Century, at the time of Charlemagne.
I drink a coffee, it is early afternoon. That is the advantage to early starts. My right shin hurts right now, it's not the walk itself I wonder if I should stay or go. Today there were 18 km, which is really too little to me. Also opens the gite is only from four people, in the guidebook. Le-Puy has apparently been burned into my head, I assume the last argument of control and make up my mind to go on.
So go ahead, another 18 km are on the program. Teeth bite will be all right. Before me, a few houses and a large boulder.
see up close, I then, still a basalt organ. A little weathered, but still fantastic.
It goes through a deep valley. Nordic Walking Seniors A group encourages me to excel. You gasp and pant up the increase. run for 15 days, I am quite fit and seems to literally fly past them, despite the throbbing shin.
Once at the top far view.
agriculture is operating here and obviously intense. The water from the well is covered with algae and disgusting that I do not drink it. It's not yet occurred on this Tour.
is difficult to drink enough for the season. Many wells are shut down, so they do not freeze. The water in my water bottle a few times frozen. Either arrived pieces of ice or nothing when it was frozen.
Big Swallow is to make anyway, the water is too cold to do so. So I have to much to drink in the evening, the accommodation, but so can the loss of water of the day barely compensate.
St-Germain-Laprade , last stop before Le-Puy. 2800 residents.
In the church of Saint-Germain. The fair-faced church interior has a very unique flair.
The church has a strange, roofless tower, which looks more like a tower than a church tower.
Now comes the tibia from the right, I Humpl more than that I walk. I am looking for a hotel. The local government certifies unmoved, that in this place with almost no accommodation is below 300 inhabitants, not even privately.
Phew, I'm me into what happens to the main stages of the last days. Fortunately, a bakery was open to me now is right. Chocolate is supposed to make you happy. So her with it! In fifteen minutes I hunt me thousands of calories pure happiness maker.
And again. The foot is ignored, but should he make what he wants.
Knirsch ... he should do what he wants ...
... and he does what he wants. My goodness!
Montjoie! Mountain of joy! The point at which you first saw Le-Puy.
front in the valley, the goal is almost within reach. Le-Puy!
look back.
Behind the mountains in the back row, which is hard to see, I am now starting tomorrow. I am proud on me. You can afford it rather than you expected. If I am here, at this point, this morning someone had said I would go there right behind the horizon and beyond-that's only the Massif du Meygal, I would not have believed him.
forward, not too early, it now runs a few kilometers. And not the most beautiful kilometer access road so directly next to the. On the cone in the background the statue can be seen, my goal for today. And at least tomorrow.
an old Roman bridge over the Loire. Apparently there were major floods regularly, it is much room left for water masses.
The bridge has pointed pillar, to be able to withstand high water and ice better. Whether, the resulting space in the niches left and right on the bridge for inspection, sale or has been used simply to dodge, I do not know. I see it more often later on Roman bridges.
Then it's ready. I'm in
Le-Puy-En-Velay . The smelly and noisy traffic on the access roads bothers me. Why people do not run or ride a bicycle?
Saint-Michel-d'Aiguilhe , I'm speechless.
The statue of Mary and Saint-Michel-d'Aiguilhe at dusk. I am happy - and exhausted!
Nothing to see more of signposts. Have I lost? Now, at the end of the long day? I find the help of some passers-by Gite, he has opened.
tired to go shopping and cooking, I eat peanuts and put up your feet.
sleep.