Day 51....Found first refuge for pilgrims since I left Scotland

After a good night's rest in St Jean d'Angely, walked until 11 and stopped to make myself a coffee when I met Annie and Gerhard who are on holiday from Germany - enjoyed the chat and I wish them well for the rest of their trip.  Walked to Saintes and found a refuge for pilgrims walking the camino at St Eutrope - 8 euro a night.  Went to local butchers and treated myself a big slice of lasagne which cost 7 quid (!) and took it back to the refuge and heated it in the microwave and scoffed it, it tasted delicious - so that was my tea sorted.  This is a cosy wee refuge well run by another Annie.  I'm the only one here and I'm catching up on my washing, I needed to bleach my t shirts, they were so dirty and I've washed my shirt - it'll probably look like a different colour when it dries - all exciting stuff.  Feel relaxed about accommodation now, I've got a list of places to stay from here to St Jean Pied d Port, the start of the Camino proper and from there I know I won't have any problems so that's good.  I walked 22 miles today.

Wee County man walks 650 miles for charity | Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser

Wee County man walks 650 miles for charity | Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser

Day 50.....A Big Mileage Day

I left St Hilaire at 8.30 this morning and walked for 2 hour then stopped for a bite to eat.  I have definitely lost a load of weight but I feel very fit and healthy and my feet are fine now but I think a lot of folk would be surprised to see me now!  After eating I walked on to Surgeres where I had thought I would finish for the day, and stuffed myself with a MacDonalds,(they get everywhere).  I felt I was walking well and continued to walk to St Jean d'Angely and arrived at 8 pm, it was a long day and I walked 30 miles in total.  Another hot day.  I've found a fantastic place and it is  good value, whoopee!  Walking to Saintes tomorrow.

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)