In April 2011 Maurice led leg 5 of the journey to Compostella, this one taking them from Orthez to Burgos, and here are some happy memories of the trek. Scroll down to view individual photographs and if you happen to have been on the walk with Maurice or have some prior knowledge of the places pictured please let me have any more details that might make our gallery more interesting and/or better informed.

The first three shots were actually taken on a previous leg but I did not not put them up at the time as I do not normally put up photographs of individuals.  But I thought these ones were so good that they should be seen.  Just to demonstrate the fact that we do not all share the same taste one viewer felt I should not have put them up as at least one of them  "seem[s] to be [not] quite right somehow-too full on"!!

A most important thing for a pilgrim is to begin the journey refreshed and our pilgrims took their rest on the train from Toulouse to Orthez!!

Another important piece of pilgrim preparation is to seek the intercession of Our Blessed Lady so on arrival at Orthez they gathered round Her statue.

And of course as ardent St Francis ramblers their leader for the pilgrimage had a word with our great patron.

At stages along the way it is necessary to check where we are on the map!!

                                                    Supper was served at Navareux

                                                            And they had a look at the town.

                          Our pilgrims en route to Arove accompanied by a French couple and their dog

                                            Olhaiby Church en route to Ostabat

                                                Chapelle de Soyarza en route to Ostabat

                                                        Inside Chapelle de Soyarza

                                    Inside Morambelz Church also en route to Ostabat

Inside Gite 1 Km up steep hill on from Ostabat. Not as clear as I would like - a bit of handshake (or perhaps the camera being held by only one hand which is quite common with digital cameras unfortunately). I'm afraid Photoshop could not quite correct the blur in this one.

    Four of our pilgrims (Anna, Carol, Catherine and Marie outside Gite with, second and fourth from left, their hosts.

                       And a shot in the same location but this one including Pilgrim Leader Maurice

                    A threatening scene but fortunately our pilgrims are protected by sturdy bars!!!

                                                        A view of the Pyrenees

                                                Outside the entrance to St Jean Pied de Port

                                                        And inside St Jean Pied de Port

                                The next three shots show St Jean Pied de Port on the rest day

                                              A photo call before saying St Jean Pied de Port

And at last, having said goodbye to St Jean Pied de Port, setting out on the Camino again.

                                                Starting out on the trek across the Pyrenees

                                                              Gite at Orrison in the Pyrenees

                                                                Supper time at the Gite

                                               One of our ladies with the statue of "Our Lady"

                                                                                            Close up of the statue of Our Lady

                                                                                            Pilgrim Leader with the statue

                                                                                                        The sign for the Roncevaux reservoir

Only 765 kms to Compostella!!  Note the seashell on the milestone - there is a legend that after St James' death, his disciples shipped his body to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. Off the coast of Spain a heavy storm hit the ship, and the body was lost to the ocean. After some time, however, the body washed ashore undamaged, covered in scallops.

                                                                                                            Mass at Roncevaux                      

                                                                    One of our pilgrims with sheep en route to Zubiri (scenes like this appear

                                                                    on postcards from Ireland with caption "traffic jam in Ireland"!)

                                                                                                    Statue of bulls and men at Pamplona

                                                                                                                Church at Pamplona

                                                                                                By the statue at Pamplona

                                                                               At the favourite haunt of all pilgrims - the bar (Cafe Iruna) at Pamplona

                                                                    Cloister in Pamplona Cathedral (two shots with different exposures)

                                                                                                                Plaza in Pamplona

                                                                                                        Plaza Puenta La Reina

                                                                                                        Rio Arga - Puenta La Reina

                                                                                        Walking over Rio Arga Bridge, Puenta La Reina

                                                                                                                            Estella

                                                                                            And now a real pilgrim dream - a wine fountain

                                                                                                And our pilgrim leader patiently waits his turn!!

                                                                                        St Andre's Church, Villamajior de Monjordin

                                                                                                    Santa Maria Church, Los Argos

                                                                                                    Walking along Logrono Street

                                                                                                    Evening meal inside Logrono Cafe

                                                                                                            Cemetery outside Navarette

                                                                                                        Cafe and Church - Ventosa

                                                                                Cloister gardens inside Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                            Nave of Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                    Reredos in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                            Altar scene in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                        Tomb in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                Statue of St James and Staff in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                        Garden in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                    Doorway in Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                Birds on the bell tower of Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                                        Main Square Santo Domingo

                                                                                    Exterior view of Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral

                                                                                                                    Inside Church

                                                                                                            Walking Muddy Track

                                                                                        Street scenes in late evening Santo Domingo

                                                                                    Frontier of Rioja with Castilla y Leon

                                                                            Evening meal at the Albergue "Cuatro Cantones" Belorado

                                                                                Breakfast at the Albergue "Cuatro Cantones" Belorado

                                                                                        Church at Villafria (snork's nest on top)

                                                                                                                Wall of Arches

                                                                       Three shots of Church at St Juan de Ortega, two close up and one distant

                                                                                                    Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                                                       Plaza in Burgos

                                                                                                            Riverside walk in Burgos

                                                                                                        Arborial promenade in Burgos

                                                                                            View of St Maria arch and Cathedral from river

                                                                                                Two shots of St Maria Arch, Burgos

                                                                                            Two shots taken inside Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                        View of Burgos Cathedral taken from across river

                                                                                                Spiral staircase, Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                        Close up shot of inside of Burgos Cathedral dome

                                                                                                        Burgos Cathedral choir                               

                                                                                                 Side Chapel in Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                                    St James, Matamoros, Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                                        Cathedral view from across river

                                                                                                   Three views looking down on Burgos Cathedral

                                                                                    Evening meal at Casa Parrochial, Burgos

                                                                                    (sorry about the blur, only slightly improved

                                                                                     with Photoshop enhance facility)

                                                                                Two further views of Burgos Cathedral and St Maria Arch

                                                                                                    Crucifix in chapel inside Cathedral

                                                                                                    Santander Seafront

                                                                            Two Faithful Pilgrims on Santander Seafront (How Did They Resist Having A Swim?!!)

And Finally the Great Cathedral at Santander (With its Cloister