In that case, you are welcome

newfydog

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pamplona-Santiago, Le Puy- Santiago, Prague- LePuy, Menton- Toulouse, Menton- Rome, Canterbury- Lausanne, Chemin Stevenson, Voie de Vezelay

• Jun 26, 2015

• #1

We thought we figured out a nice little back road cut off on the Vezelay route. It was a great dirt road, but ended behind someone's barn. We thought we'd discretely walk around it and get back to the road. We ran into a rather aristocratic looking gentleman:

"monsieur, ce domaine est privé"
"Sorry", We replied in bad French "We are pelerins, a little bit lost from the Chemin St Jacques."

"Ah, In that case, you are welcome!" he replied in elegant English. "Turn left past the barn and I will open the gate so that you may get back to the route"

We turned left, and I snapped a quick photo of our very understanding host's home:

 

Gailsie

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances Fall '09 ;

• Jun 26, 2015

• #2

All I can think to say is WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Great photo

 

P

Pei2spain

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (2011)

• Jun 26, 2015

• #3

Oh, Mon Dieu! That's some house! What did the barn look like! LOL

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Jun 27, 2015

• #4

Whoah!

 

newfydog

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pamplona-Santiago, Le Puy- Santiago, Prague- LePuy, Menton- Toulouse, Menton- Rome, Canterbury- Lausanne, Chemin Stevenson, Voie de Vezelay

• Jun 27, 2015

• #5

It is amazing, the French attitude toward private property. Obviously, a place like that would want a bit of privacy, but trespassers are not seen as someone who should be shot. Most farm and vineyard roads are open to hikers and bikers. In the area that we mountain bike in the south of France, the only vineyard which is gated and closed belongs to that Brad and Angelina pair. If you can see a route on Google Earth, you can probably bike it.

In the US we see signs like "if you can read this, you're in my range" Anything private is gated and locked and an honest mistake may result in an angry confrontation. In France, a couple muddy pilgrims on bikes were treated with grace and class.

 

Susan hopes

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

June 2014, June 2016

• Jun 27, 2015

• #6

Aiy dios mio!

 

CaminoDebrita

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances SJPP to SdC Oct/Nov 2015
Frances Burgos toSdC March/April 2016
W. Highland Way August 2016
Camino Somewhere September 2017

• Jun 29, 2015

• #7

newfydog said:

We thought we figured out a nice little back road cut off on the Vezelay route. It was a great dirt road, but ended behind someone's barn. We thought we'd discretely walk around it and get back to the road. We ran into a rather aristocratic looking gentleman:

"monsieur, ce domaine est privé"
"Sorry", We replied in bad French "We are pelerins, a little bit lost from the Chemin St Jacques."

"Ah, In that case, you are welcome!" he replied in elegant English. "Turn left past the barn and I will open the gate so that you may get back to the route"

We turned left, and I snapped a quick photo of our very understanding host's home:

View attachment 19615

Click to expand...

Oh, my HEAVENS! That must have been a stunning, stunning surprise! This photo is incredible.

 

Kiwi-family

{Rachael, the Mama of the family}

Time of past OR future Camino

walking every day for the rest of my life

• Jul 1, 2015

• #8

....and then he politely closed the gate!

(actually, you know what? You were probably talking to the butler or the gardener)

 

Lachance

Me llamo Deb

Time of past OR future Camino

Part Francese 2016

• Jul 1, 2015

• #9

Kiwi-family said:

....and then he politely closed the gate!

(actually, you know what? You were probably talking to the butler or the gardener)

Click to expand...

Speaking elegant English?

 

newfydog

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pamplona-Santiago, Le Puy- Santiago, Prague- LePuy, Menton- Toulouse, Menton- Rome, Canterbury- Lausanne, Chemin Stevenson, Voie de Vezelay

• Jul 1, 2015

• #10

Kiwi-family said:

....and then he politely closed the gate!

(actually, you know what? You were probably talking to the butler or the gardener)

Click to expand...

No, he had just gotten out of a fancy black sedan, and was wearing some sort of riding pants. Just the way the lord of the estate would look in a movie. The whole episode was a bit surreal.