Day 3 Montcuq to Lauzerte 15.1 kms 442m (48.3kms 1172m)

A day of surprises!
It is Good Friday so we expected a little difficulty on the food front - will anything be open in tiny Catholic towns?
Our host in Chambre dhote Maison Saint Privat was a would be chef. Breakfast was Jams with little spicy variations, homemade carrot cake and an almond and pear tarte - wow!
We asked if there was a lunch stop and there was not, but "stop in next door for sandwiches and pastries" We got delicious jambon and fromage bagettes and an apple slice!
During a rather cold mornings walk the sun came out, verrry niccce! 10° with sun is so nice after 7° without sun.
We stopped for lunch in a churchyard with three French pilgrims and an old lady in tracksuit pants walked into the church. We heard 5 minutes of beautiful singing and then she emerged and retraced her steps.
There was a lunch stop.

There were park benches and picnic table whenever you needed one. This one had a view of our destination.

Once we arrived we set off looking for a pub. We were kidnapped by a local man, drunk enough to be very happy to be our tour guide. After a 30 minute tour, walking higher and higher in the old town, we were treated to amazing views.
He agreed to a photo before pointing us towards the pub.
The final surprise was the pilgrims dinner at our 2 star hotel. The room was spartan so we had low expectations. First a delicious vegetable soup, then a tuna 🥘 casserole, then pork or fish - we chose trout (yum) and then a choice of creme brulee or an alcoholic plum cake - both excellent.
Full tummies , some good conversation with an American walking with his Columbian grandson.The American said he came from the centre of the resistance, Minneapolis.
Goodnight!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Preparing for a 480km walk

Image
We start early, usually 18mths. Clare loves to travel. Ross lovely cool weather walking. We plan when we go by the climate. Walking when it's between 10 and 20 degrees meant choosing Autumn or Spring in France . We don't stay in dorms or carry our own luggage so there is lots of booking to be done. A Chambre d'hotes or a Gite is like a Bed and Breakfast , but they also do set meal dinners for pilgrims /walkers. They have dorms but if you book early they often have 1 or 2 private rooms. We have booked 24 of these and 4 different luggage transport companies as each only covers part of France or Spain Our backpack has daily essentials only, so about 5kg. Our transported bag is limited to 13kg so it's tricky. We need walking gear, cold weather gear and clothes for our Poland and England short stays at the end. There is lots of mowing (about 8 acres ) fruit picking, weeding, spraying and mulchin...
Read more

Day 1 Cahors to Granejouis 16.1kms 320m

Image
We did it! Despite wars, injuries, limited preparation and ever growing age we have finished day 1. It started like this- continued like this and finished with a hot shower - lovely. You may have guessed from the photo that spring is still fighting with winter. We hit 11° today but the wind helped it to feel just a touch cooler. ☃️  The walk was on country lanes and gravel tracks. The climbs were moderate grades and there was a lunch stop with ☕ and 🥪. We are now the first guests for the year at a farmhouse owned by an elderly lady who has returned to her childhood home. It is simple but quiet and comfortable. Here is the view from our verandah. Our host Odette and her sister Marie Therese prepared a simple but delicious evening meal. A salad of carrot egg and lettuce, then sauted chicken and potatoes, then two soft cheeses and then a baked apple. It was all washed down with a local red wine. She is a singer and harmonica player and she sang for...
Read more

Day 8 Lectour to La Romieu 19kms 411m (146.7 and 3175m)

Image
Lectoure turned out to be ancient but quite prosperous The main street, wide enough for 1 and a half cars went on for a kilometre.  By the way " it aren't half hot mum". What a difference a week makes. Our last two days have been hot 26 and 25°. It has felt like 30 with a pack on your back and 20kms under your belt. Back to the story( strange but true). We walked steeply down from the hilltop town and then wound upwards through farmland, walking on the edge of cropped fields for about 9kms to Marsolan. This was another hilltop village, with an ancient church, and a population bolstered expat British. A lovely cafe was 👐 and served a delicious sandwich. A french sandwich is typically half a 🥖 with cheese ham and 🍅. The crust is crisp and the white bread, very fresh - delicious 😋. After lunch our walk continued through meadows, some cultivated and some not. This pond made us feel the land was healthy. Listen - the frogs could be heard 500 metres away. ...
Read more