The 790 km sign near Roncesvalles

[Bouwmeester]

Hi all,

I noticed the 790 km sign in the trailer of The Way, looked it up and found out it's next to the road near Roncesvalles. Just curious why it says 790 km though? I realise that it's a motorway sign, but Google Maps says it's around 750 km by car from Roncesvalles to SdC (and exactly 787 when taking a slight detour).

Any guesses? This is probably my least practical question, but you probably know what it's like when sheer curiosity takes over

Buen Camino,
Tom

 

[Thengel1]

One of the first things you learn when walking the camino is that the signs indicating distance are little more than random guesses. One morning early in my camino, shortly after climbing out of Linzoain ( I think), I came across a sign indicating 6.9 km to the next town. Not more than 50 metres later, I came across another sign indicating 7.5. And no, I hadn't gone the wrong way.

 

[tyrrek]

It's just a 'tourist attraction'. How many drivers leaving Roncesvalles are heading for Santiago, I wonder? It's just there for us to take photos. By saying it's 790kms it lets those who have come from SJPP know that we've crossed the 800km point! Still a long way to go.... Buen Camino!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Another possibility is that the walking distance is further than the driving distance. Many times, I've taken the main road when the official Camino goes over the river and through the woods, and I've arrived much sooner than my fellow pilgrims.

 

[fraluchi]

This is probably my least practical question, but you probably know what it's like when sheer curiosity takes over

A few years ago, Acacio of Viloria de Rioja (Acacio & Orietta), decided to measure the Camino Francés in Spain on account of the Red de albergues Camino de Santiago http://www.redalberguessantiago.com. He came up with the figure of 793 kms from Roncesvalles to Santiago. The measures were taken from town church to town church, following the classic Camino Francés. The road sign of 790 km on the outskirt of Roncesvalles was not to be changed for a mere 0,4% difference in the various measurements. :roll: People might argue about small variations to the Camino which have taken over time, but once one arrives after the full walk into Santiago, a debate over one km more or less is the last thing that might come to one's mind.

 

[mspath]

... People might argue about small variations to the Camino which have taken over time, but once one arrives after the full walk into Santiago, a debate over one km more or less is the last thing that might come to one's mind.

I certainly agree witn fraluchi! Each time I arrive all want to do is sit down. Another measurement discrepancy is this along the CF in Galicia as noted in the CSJ Guide 2004 . "After leaving Laguna de Castilla you will encounter the first Galician concrete waymarkers showing the distance to Santiago every 500 metres. For whatever reason they are 2km short until you reach Lavacolla."

Remember that to err is human.

Margaret Meredith

 

[GunnarW]

2km error: that make sense because in Lavacolla, the camino turns around the runway of the airport. Before airplanes and runways were invented, it seems that the camino went straight ahead.

 

[Bouwmeester]

... People might argue about small variations to the Camino which have taken over time, but once one arrives after the full walk into Santiago, a debate over one km more or less is the last thing that might come to one's mind.

I certainly agree witn fraluchi! Each time I arrive all want to do is sit down. Another measurement discrepancy is this along the CF in Galicia as noted in the CSJ Guide 2004 . "After leaving Laguna de Castilla you will encounter the first Galician concrete waymarkers showing the distance to Santiago every 500 metres. For whatever reason they are 2km short until you reach Lavacolla."

Remember that to err is human.

Margaret Meredith

This 'distance debate' even more interesting than I expected it to be
I agree with you both though, the minor discrepancies aren't very important in comparison to the entire journey. I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[nreyn12]

There is a stone marker on the Napoleon Route, shortly before the French-Spanish border, that says Santiago is 768 kms away. Apparently when you reach the sign in Roncesvalles - 790 kms to go - you have lost a lot of ground!

How far one walks also depends on which of the alternative routes one takes. The trail splits several times - in the meseta after Sahagun, after Leon at Virgen del Camino, at and just after Villafranco del Bierzo, and at Triacastela, to name a few.

 

[russellg99]

I'll be having my picture taken in front of that sign one week from today - can't wait!

http://goo.gl/maps/YCqw0

Russell

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I'll be having my picture taken in front of that sign one week from today - can't wait! http://goo.gl/maps/YCqw0 Russell

You hope! I hope it isn't raining so hard you have to leave your camera deep in your pack
Buen Camino!
Margaret

 

[scruffy1]

There was once a small hand painted sign in the shape of an airplane coming out of Uterga just down the hill at the crossroads reading Santiago 747 kilometers. The Chemin Le Puy has an amazing array of signs posting any number of incorrect distances to Santiago which also may be ignored. In my humble opinion the only distances which are important are those you read about 1530 indicating direction and distance to your bed and dinner. The rest are charming but do not really serve any purpose.

 

[skilsaw]

Global Positioning System is the answer.

What was the question?

 

[nreyn12]

My favorite photo of that notorious sign...Catherine from Switzerland from the last group I led...

 

[russellg99]

As promised, I finally got my picture next to the sign I've seen so many times from other people! And yes, it was raining. It's still raining.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Great to see Russell. At least it wasn't raining so hard you couldn't even think of using a camera! I hope the season starts to show a bit more normal summer for you and others somewhere/sometime before you reach Santiago.
Margaret