Day 9, April 15
0 miles, 74 miles total, REST DAY #1
Altitude: 3,818 feet
Weather: warm and sunny 35-56F
Nasbinals
Most church bells ring ding-dong before striking the hour. In this region of France the clocks strike the hour, pause, and strike the hour once more.
Day 9, April 15
0 miles, 74 miles total, REST DAY #1
Altitude: 3,818 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Nasbinals
Like the threads of a spider’s web, people on the Camino are connected. I met French Christine and Mimi on Day 3. After walking together, I pulled ahead at a quicker pace. Ten minutes later, I missed a turn and became frightened. I actually yelled, “Mimi” in hopes of being heard. Alas, I backtracked and with great relief found them. For the rest of the day I would walk ahead only as far as I could keep them in eye sight. Christine and Mimi became my security blankets allowing me to become more confident. A thread in the web.
Having arrived at Nasbinals I sat outside a cafe with an expresso when along comes a Frenchman who asks if I was the American lady walking the Camino. The French women had spoke of me. A thread in the web.
Kismet! The French ladies arrive with Christine distressed from a backpack with a broken back brace and blisters on her feet. I help administer to her blisters and offer a temporary repair to her backpack. Most of all, I offer her friendship. We will meet in three more days. A threat in the web.
They say the Camino provides…the web grows.
Day 8, April 14
13 miles, 74 miles total
Altitude: 3,818 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Nasbinals
Two days ago I could touch snow with the tip of my walking pole. Albeit, the snow was no more more than a patch and I was comfortably dressed in shorts.
Today I saw snow on the mountain tops.
Day 7, April 13, Palm Sunday
14 miles, 61 miles total
Altitude: 3,579 feet
Weather: warm and sunny 65F
Lasbros
You can’t judge the beauty of a church by its outside. Chapelle de Bastide in Lasbros is the size of my living room; yet, it leaves one wondering how so much beauty is inside.
Day 7, April 13, Palm Sunday
14 miles, 61 miles total
Altitude: 3,579 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Lasbros
Random ribbons with written messages of encouragement have been hung in trees. From a distance, they are seen twisting like kites in the breeze. Having read the message-ribbon, I took its advise and took a break. Socks and boots off resting my feet in the cool grass and eating a pear having already ate a mini Paris Brest (eclair like pastry) earlier in day. Pilgrimages do burn calories.
Day 7, April 13, Palm Sunday
14 miles, 61 miles total
Altitude: 3,579 feet
Weather: warm and sunny 65F
Lasbros
Thanks to a google search, I have diagnosed the early signs of a corn. Compeed Corn Patch to the rescue. It’s a great reminder to apply a thin coat of Vasoline on the toes to reduce friction. A runner’s trick.
Day 7, April 13, Palm Sunday
14 miles, 61 miles total
Altitude: 3,579 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Lasbros
My accommodation, Gite-bungalow Le Champ du Theron, is a real winner. Though able to accommodate four, I am the only guest. It’s outfitted much like a sailboat with cupboard, closets, built in couch with storage space under the cushions, and a microwave. It must be from my vast cooking experience I figured out the French labeled touch pad on the microwave.
Day 6, April 12
14 miles, 47 miles total
Altitude: 1,960 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Saint Alban-sur-Limagnole
A historic monument des Templiers (larger building) dating from 13th century. It was a hospital run by a religious order. Today it served me incredible strawberry sherbet.
The smaller house is a “buron,” shepherd’s isolate house when cattle and flocks of sheep are brought up to graze in the high pasturelands.
Walking all day feels like marathon training days doing “time on feet .” The feet keep turning over and over and over.
Day 5, April 11
14 miles, 33 miles total
Altitude: feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Le Falzet
Straight as an arrow are how gardens grow.
Day 4, April 10
9 miles, 19 miles total
Altitude: 1,969 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Monistrol-d’Allier
A seven-person Gite (though I have the place all to myself) on a 120 year old fromage farm, a bottle of wine, Le Puy Green Lentil Soup, the best ever mushroom-chive omelet, beef, pasta, baguette, apple, orange, and of course fromage from the property all delivered to my table. By the way, “room service” for breakfast is yet to come.
Linda Scandore 