Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression.

Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Printable Version

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Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-19-2009

Salvete,

Two weeks ago a contubernium of Legio XI CPF (Belgium) went on a march in the Ardennes (very hilly terrain, woods, not a living soul in the region). We marched with full pack for about 9km, then we made camp, dug ditches, scouted the regions, put out watches, discovered a natural source with drinkable water, cooked lunch etc. Then we filled up the ditches again, broke camp and walked another 9 km over very hilly ground.

It was the first time my group did such a march with fully laden furca's. It was quite exhausting to do it on such steep slopes, but boy was it a rewarding experience. Soon we'll do a full weekend, then we'll try a week living as Roman soldiers, away from modern civalisation.

Public events are good fun but this is the real thing and something completely different Big Grin

Here are some pictures:

Arriving at a suitable camp site:
[Image: IMG_1407.jpg]

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-19-2009

[Image: IMG_1475.jpg]

Getting water from the source (a 40 min walk to get to the nearest source and back on a hot day makes you appreciate water)
[Image: IMG_1448.jpg]

A look out posted on the high ground
[Image: IMG_1492.jpg]

And then it was time to pack up and leave again
[Image: IMG_1506.jpg]

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-19-2009

[Image: IMG_1510.jpg]

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-19-2009

Those woods sure look forbidding, but we'll risk it

[Image: IMG_1524.jpg]

Thanks for looking Big Grin

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Renius - 05-20-2009

Looks like lots of fun. Thanks for posting the pics.

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Titus Juventius Tertius - 05-20-2009

Quote:Looks like lots of fun. Thanks for posting the pics.

No kidding. The woodland out here in Colorado looks similar... but the photos are a lot more ominous than what we have here. Tongue

I liked the "peeping" type of pictures... where you're almost taking a look at history without getting involved in it.

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-20-2009

Glad you like the pictures Smile

The person who took them normally photographs birds, so this explains the style. Smile

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - jvrjenivs - 05-21-2009

Great pictures Jeff! It's nice you now also have some marching experience! Seems you guys had a good day!

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-21-2009

Quote:Great pictures Jeff! It's nice you now also have some marching experience! Seems you guys had a good day!

Perhaps you can join us some time for a longer march, would be fun!

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Jona Lendering - 05-21-2009

Thanks, nice!

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 05-23-2009

Looks like great weather for it! Is that forestry land? Ideal for that sort of thing, great pics!

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Sutoris - 05-24-2009

Hey Jef, great pictures.
How many blisters :?: and how did the caligae take the trip :?:

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-24-2009

Quote:Hey Jef, great pictures.
How many blisters :?: and how did the caligae take the trip :?:

I didn't get any blisters, nor do I think did any of the others.

We all wore a pair of udones, though.

You saw the strage thing that happened to the sole of my calcei last weekend. The outer rim of the sole got cut loose all around the perimeter, but it doesn't seem as though the shoes lost anything of their structural strenght. Marching with such heavy bagage over rocky terrain did take it's toll on the hobnails though. Wear on these was immense. I think you'd completely wear out new hobnails in just a few days on this kind of terrain.

The caligae took the trip quite well, but some of the people wearing them experienced some problems with the shafts of the hobnails coming through the sole and hurting their feet. This was especially the case in the heel-area. This did cause quite some discomfort.

Vale,

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Sutoris - 05-27-2009

Quote:You saw the strage thing that happened to the sole of my calcei last weekend.

Yes I have a closer look at it next time I see you.

Quote:The caligae (most of them made by Matt Lukes) took the trip quite well, but some of the people wearing them experienced some problems with the shafts of the hobnails coming through the sole and hurting their feet. This was especially the case in the heel-area. This did cause quite some discomfort.

Probably the full pack compressed the leather some more.
some pounding on the anvil would solve that problem, I think.
Next time I go with you as a civil sutor and take my tools with me :wink:

Re: Legio XI CPF marching in the Ardennes. An impression. - Marcus Mummius - 05-27-2009

Quote:
Quote:Probably the full pack compressed the leather some more.
some pounding on the anvil would solve that problem, I think.
Next time I go with you as a civil sutor and take my tools with me :wink:

Our feet will be very grateful Big Grin