Aligot – June 7, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino – #25 Nasbinals / St Chély d’Aubrac
  • Distance: 10.2 miles / Total 331.6 miles
  • Ascent: 711’ / Descent: 1,817’
  • Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
  • Weather: 60-70°/ overcast, light rain (12th day of rain)

Good dinner memories at this restaurant shared with Christine and Mimi in 2014. Now I have the area’s classic “stretchy” cheese and potato dish, Aligot.

Restaurant worth the walk.
What are the odds I would randomly photograph the man in the blue shirt twice? Same man, same great restaurant.
Aligot.
Falling Aligot.

Gutsy – June 6, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino – #24 Aumont-Aubrac / Nasbinals
  • Distance: 18 miles / Total 321.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,285’ / Descent: 868’
  • Time: 10 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ overcast, 6 “sprinkling” rain (not requiring rain gear), blue sky with white clouds

I took a little know variant to see the local Cascade du Déroc. No Camino traffic here. Gutsy.

Cascade du Déroc.
Cascade du Déroc.
Cascade du Déroc.
Who else but my Parisian campers!

Beauties – June 6, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino – #24 Aumont-Aubrac / Nasbinals
  • Distance: 18 miles / Total 321.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,285’ / Descent: 868’
  • Time: 10 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ overcast, 6 “sprinkling” rain (not requiring rain gear), blue sky with white clouds

More beauties.

Same flower with two looks.
Narcissus
Today’s barista.
A remembered church.

Pageant- June 6, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino – #24 Aumont-Aubrac / Nasbinals
  • Distance: 18 miles / Total 321.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,285’ / Descent: 868’
  • Time: 10 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ overcast, 6 “sprinkling” rain (not requiring rain gear), blue sky with white clouds

If there was a beauty pageant for cows, today’s cows are winners. They have the reputation of being the most beautiful on the Camino.

Winner.
Winners.
Yeap. I could scratch their heads between their horns. It felt gritty.
Winner.

Strokes – June 6, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino – #24 Aumont-Aubrac / Nasbinals
  • Distance: 18 miles / Total 321.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,285’ / Descent: 868’
  • Time: 10 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ overcast, 6 “sprinkling” rain (not requiring rain gear), blue sky with white clouds

Different strokes for different folks.

It’s a challenge staying upright on the rocks. Imagine pulling and pushing a cart!
Outfitted for two.
Well deserved soak for the “cart” woman.
Umbrella hat from Amazon. 3€. Too bad the headpiece broke on its debut showing.

Workers – June 5, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino -#23 Le Sauvage / Aumont-Aubrac
  • Distance: 17.6 miles / Total 303.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,350’ / Descent: 2,075’
  • Time: 9 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ blue sky with white clouds

Workers…

Stone mason. Artisan. Old school…by hand and sheer might.
Farms seem to require no more machinery than one versatile Massey Ferguson tractor. The farms seem to be no larger than what one family with one tractor can manage.
When this tractor first passed me I was stunned to see the dog balanced on a green barrel. It turns out the barrel has been cut to form a cradle. The master can continue to work the farm with its senior dog.
Nine hours of walking deserves time to smell the roses.

Lost – June 5, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino -#23 Le Sauvage / Aumont-Aubrac
  • Distance: 17.6 miles / Total 303.4 miles
  • Ascent: 1,350’ / Descent: 2,075’
  • Time: 9 hours 00 minutes
  • Weather: 60-75°/ blue sky with white clouds

The log jam of walking pilgrims has passed. I find myself getting lost in my own thoughts.

Lake by Gîte.
Lake by Gîte.
On the Way.
Wheat and cows.

Share – June 4, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino -#22 Saugues / Le Sauvage
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 285.8 miles
  • Ascent: 1,699’ / Descent: 611’
  • Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 60-70°/ overcast becoming blue sky with white clouds

Herding cows on a street is quite a novelty for me but routine for the area. These huge docile animals parade all around you without the least bit of interest. Whereas I am as thrilled with their company as if I were riding a roller coaster. This takes share the road to a new level. Imagine the bumper sticker!

Rawhide. Head them up. Move them out. Rawhide.
The herder in red is as patient with the gawkers as she is with the herd.
Strut your stuff.
Nancy and Giuseppe share with me that this is real France. it’s not the usual tourist affair.

Farm Charm – June 4, 2024

  • Francès ~ Podiensis Camino -#22 Saugues / Le Sauvage
  • Distance: 14 miles / Total 285.8 miles
  • Ascent: 1,699’ / Descent: 611’
  • Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
  • Weather: 60-70°/ overcast becoming blue sky with white clouds

It felt like returning the an old home place. It was the first working farm Gîte I stayed at ten years ago. No longer are the cows milked on the ground level of the house. That space has been turned into more bedrooms and the second floor of the barn into dining space. Dozens of outdoor picnic tables welcomed pilgrims for their picnics. I introduced myself to the current owner and showed pictures of the Gîte ten years ago. He grinned and explained his parents no longer do the work. Now it’s his business. Ten years ago I was the only guest. Now reservation are full in advance. Its prospered yet has maintained its farm charm.

La Ferme Aux Fromage
La Ferme Aux Fromage
Ten years ago the cows were milked through that doorway.
Ten years ago, the top left was my bedroom window.
Proud son now runs the farm/gîte with help from his son.