Day 26, May 2
12 miles, 306 miles total
Altitude:
Weather: rainy, cloudy, partly sunny 38-58F
La Romieu
If you build it, people will come. This lunch shelter is shared by waves of pilgrims. Hard boiled eggs left on the table are sold on the honor system. It’s always good sharing Christine and Mimi’s company.
Day 23, April 29
15 miles, 267 miles total
Altitude: 76 meters
Weather: rainy, cloudy, partly sunny 38-58F
Moissan
What could be easier than to walk beside a canal for 10 miles? So I thought. I am told to stay on the west side of the canal as it is a pebble track while the east side is dirt AKA mud. However, the Chemin directs you back and forth from the west to the east side of the canal to access hamlets for your daily quota of expresso thus support the local economy. A bridge is under construction so the locals communicate to me to cross the canal at an earlier interval. The outcome is I miss the turn from the canal walking extra miles. Another caveat is the turn off is at mile 6 and not mile 10 as told. Many pilgrims told the same unfortunate tale this night. Misery does not enjoy company. Moral of the tale is to stick to the guide.
None the less, isn’t it beautiful?
Day 20, April 26
15 miles, 225 miles total
Altitude: 400 feet
Weather: partly cloudy & light rain 34-60F
Cahors
Au Revoir Joanna
This I how it works. A driver takes the older white
Shihuahua
by car while the 4 month
Shihuahua
rides in a kangaroo waist pouch being carried on the Camino. They are going to Santiago with the charming red head from Bordeaux and her Spanish friend.
Day 18, April 24
12 miles, 199 miles total
Altitude: 984 feet
Weather: partly cloudy 55-70F
Limogne-en-Quercy
Joanna, from London joins me
Gite owners who provide half-pension ask themselves this question every day. The thought of having more than a day’s food stocked in the refrigerator is unquestionable to the French; yet, they need to be able to provide dinner and breakfast for complete occupancy at gites. Tonight’s cassoulet dinner was magnifique !
Still looking for Gite that served escargot.
Day 17, April 23
19 miles, 187 miles total
Altitude: 488 feet
Weather: partly cloudy 55-74F
Cajarc
Joanna, from London joins me
Like Virginia, each day in spring nature makes dramatic changes. The trees are now washed in green leaves as though the Jolly Green Giant lives here.
Fields of newly plowed soil have furrows as heigh as 18 inches. The soil is so rich in color it looks like pools of melted milk chocolate. Crops surely thrive.
Joanna’s wisdom, “It takes as much time to get over pushing yourself at a fast pace as it does to walk at a leisurely pace.”
Day 16, April 22
15.5 miles, 168 miles total
Altitude: 196 meters
Weather: cloudy, sprinkles 40-50F
Figeac
Joanna, from London joins me
Head’em up. Move’em out. Rawhide. (from 1960’s Clint Eastwood western TV show)
I helped move a flock of sheep into a meadow.
The real fun was helping to move a herd of cows. Just as I surmised from the past two weeks of close encounters with cows, they are quite interested and comfortable with people. In helping move a herd across the road, I found myself penned between the fence dozens of huge cows staring straight into my eyes within a hand ‘a touch. I simply edged along the fence toward the barn and they moved into the barn as pretty as you please. The farmer remarked at how calm my presence was around cows. He and the cows could tell.
Day 13, April 19
13 miles, 137 miles total
Altitude: 918 feet
Weather: warm and overcast 32-62F
Conques
Joanna arrives!
Because you like it best.
Day 13, April 19
13 miles, 137 miles total
Altitude: 918 feet
Weather: warm and overcast 32-62F
Conques
Joanna arrives!
Leaving Golinhac I met the most irresistible Canadian Landees dog, Titi, on his way to the river for a swim. His owner explained Titi was the most known and best loved in the village. Titi kissed me au revoir.
Joanna, from London, and I arrived at Conques within minutes of each other. We are staying at Accueil Abbaye Sainte-Foy which hosts pilgrims at the abbey. Our co-ed room has eight sets of bunk beds all full. As we got in late, all the bottom bunks were full. The top bunk has the vertue of no one at eye level. The bathroom is semi-coed with mixed use for showers and sinks; yet, separate toilets. People respect everyone’s privacy and are very civil in tight quarters. With 60 attending dinner, a third were welcomed familiar pilgrims I have met these past days. We attended evening high mass during this most Holy Week.
Day 12, April 18
21 miles, 124 miles total
Altitude: 2,132 feet
Weather: warm and overcast 38-62F
Golinhac
It’s a good thing I bought a generous slice of paté at Espalion’s market. Not only did it make a wonderful picnic lunch while watching sheep graze; but, it also sustained me when I under counted today’s walk and ran out of water. It did seem to provide more zip than Gu (runner’s energy food). It definitely had a finer taste than Gu. Would paté work as energy food for a marathon? Tips for those running Monday’s Boston Marathon.
Day 11, April 17
14 miles, 103 miles total
Altitude: 1,263 feet
Weather: warm and sunny 45-62F
Saint-Come d’Olt
The community oven in l’Estrade has been turned into hospitality shelter offering coffee, tea, or orange juice for pilgrims. Our coffee was interrupted by two farmers driving cows down the hamlet lane.
The Camino provides. The web of connections expands. Having gotten rid of my “heavy” coins, “Pilgrim Corsica” donated a euro for me. Having muscle pain, I pulled out a couple of Advil from my pack and handed them to him. In turn, “Pilgrim Corsica” having met a pilgrim with knee issues shares one Advil with him.
Linda Scandore 