Day 49...a man has to go, when I man has to go...

Marc made me my breakfast and then walked with me to the outskirts of the town, I really appreciated Marc's hospitality - thank you.  However, during the night I really needed to go and I didn't want to disturb Marc, so I finished what was left of my orange juice and used the empty carton - so basically I had en suite facilities!  I walked to Maillezars and had lunch and then met Daniella, a french woman who was walking part of the camino, the first walker I've met doing the camino in 49 days.  We walked together for 4 hours and then said adios or should that be au revoir at La Roche. I enjoyed the company.  I then continued to walk to St Hilaire d'Palud  and then started looking for a room without luck - the cheapest was 55 euros.  Eventually I found a room and including breakfast is 15 euros, that is more like it.  It has been very hot today again and I walked about 20 miles today.

Day 48....Best breakfast since Tilly Tearoom and back on two wheels!

Yves and Nelly made me a great cooked breakfast, not the Scottish kind but excellent all the same - french porridge and beautiful omelette - beats dry bread and coffee any day!  Then they dropped me off back near the camino and I walked for 4 hours to Nieul St Lautise.  Tried to go in the royal abbey but there was a wedding ceremony on so I couldn't go inside.  Walked to Oulmes to Marc's (another couch surfing offer) house.  Marc showed me my room and then offered me the use of his bicycle - it was great to be back on 2 wheels. I explored the area in a fraction of the time it would have taken me to walk.  Pity it hadn't an engine, that would have been even better.  Marc made me my dinner and I am now relaxing reading my maps and checking out where I should go next.  It has been very hot today 26c and I walked about 12 miles altogether.

day 47...my first couch surfing experience

Today I walked for 3 hours through quiet empty villages.  I stopped in a bus shelter as it was raining and heated up tin of beans and sausages on my wee stove. Delicious.  Continued to follow Camino to St Laurente de la Salle.  Not a single shop nor bar and met no one, it seemed deserted.  Arrived at Serigne at 6 o'clock  and made contact with Yves and Nelly who had offered me a bed through the Couchsurfing network.  They picked me up and took me to their house and we had a lovely meal along with a friend of theirs, I have really enjoyed their hospitality and kindness - a big thank you to both of them especially after a few hard days, I really appreciate it.  I walked 22 miles today and didn't get lost once - yeehaw!

Day 46...Get your boots on

Left hotel and walked for half an hour, made my own breakfast  - coffee and bread. Walked about 12k to Mouchamps and bought vittles for lunch.  It has been heavy rain here today and I got soaked.  My food felt very heavy in my rucksack but I am best to buy food when I can, can't be sure when I will get to the next shop.  I arrived at Puybelliard at 4 o'clock and found great chambres d'hotes for only 20 euros - very comfy.  Met no one today. I reckon I am about half way through France now with about 350 miles to go so anyone who wants to join me get your boots on and get out here!  I walked about 16 miles today.  My song today is the brilliant 
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon: Us and Them (HD Master Vinyl Recording)     

Day 45 - Merci Beaucoup

Another quiet night in hotel and got going about 8.30 this morning.  It was pouring down and thought I shouldn't wear my kilt so off I set my first day in my trousers.... walked 3 miles and then remembered that I'd forgotten to pack my kilt.  Whoa!  Went back and got it, lucky I'd remembered - I would hate to lose it.  Enjoyed my walk today despite the setback, the camino is now well signposted, I see the shells marking the path and I walked along the riverside and quiet country roads, more like it but not another walker in sight.  I arrived at St Fulgert about 7pm but again no hostels.  I had hoped that there would be accommodation once I got on the French way but there doesn't seem to be. C'est la vie.

Anthony Toner - Merci Beaucoup

Day 44 ...Lost in France

Had a quiet night in hotel and went to tourist information first thing this morning.  They gave me photocopies of the Chemin (french Camino) and I felt confident that I was on the right track but guess what  - after I had been walking in the wrong direction for 2 hours, so ******* frustrating.  It really isn't easy to follow,  the paths are so confusing as I think they are mixed up with local tracks etc and really don't go anywhere.  Ended up at Boussay so I had to walk along busy roads again to get back in the right direction to Montaigu.   I expected to be meeting other walkers by now, but it is just not happening.   I walked about 19 miles today, it was 21c and was going to sleep out tonight but it is now very heavy rain and have had to book into another hotel in Montaigu.

My pal from Ireland, Stephen Diver, great guy, is now walking the  Spanish camino and I wish him well.  Good folk I have met on my way have been donating on Just Giving on my link. At least  this makes me feel a bit better and reminds me why I am here, thanks I really appreciate and it is encouraging. Today's song for me is............LOST HIGHWAY by Hank Williams.........how apt!