The day is blazing down on the Camino, feeling great today and my song today is America - Ventura Highway (live 1974) ....more later
An easy 17 miles today, really enjoyed it, that's more like it. Great scenery, not so flat so I had good views and it felt good. I've stopped at Halte Jacquaire Pons and again 8 euro a night and again I am the only person staying. I'm going to walk up to the shops and buy some vittles and rustle up a good meal for myself. It's been another hot hot day - 26c......au revoir the noo!
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
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.
Monday, 7 October 2013
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.
Sunday, 6 October 2013
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.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
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.
Friday, 4 October 2013
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!
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