Thursday 24th June The sun was shining, breakfast was great – croissants and french bread, fruit juice, fruit and yoghurt and our freshly made rolls were purchased from the bakery across the way from the hotel. Now time to get back on the trail. Our path took us down the Rue Charlemagne under the Porte du Barry and then across the Dourdou River and up towards the Chapelle Sainte Foy. Arty photo taken on the way down to the river. Teresa contemplates the climb. The sun is hot already and as we start to climb, the water starts to be [...]
Back on the Camino, section3 and it’s June 2010
The only blip in our trip out to France was the fact that I left my jacket in the car, must have been all the excitement! All three of us, yes a change from previous times, flew to Rodez which was familiar territory and we got a taxi to the wonderful Conques. Teresa and I were feeling very excited about showing Christine around. Same hotel and all the memories instantly came flooding back. It was lovely as the beer didn’t have to wait till we’d walked miles and miles, we could have one now. Chris and Teresa soak up that [...]
Off home on October 5th.
Restaurant where we lunched We did have some time this morning to shop picking up local pate, cheese and an almond croissant for Teresa’s son as well as some little silver scallop shell earings for Ellie. We’d booked our taxi the night before so we could relax, explore a little more and have time for lunch which we ended up eating outside in the sun at the Creperie across from the front door of the Abbey – not a bad view to keep until you return. Allow me to leave you with some more photos of this very special place……………………………………..
The last day and we’re off to Conques
Another sign on the outskirts of Esperyac and another morning yet again shrouded in mist. By now we were used to the pattern and although the fleece was useful in the first place to keep the cool out, we knew that a few hours later we were likely to be back in shorts and T shirts.Firstly breakfast…….on a Sunday in France it’s not at all unusual to get more of a treat and that can be anything from a wider choice to croissants and pastries. I suppose we shouldn’t have been surprised, given the night before, to find no-one around [...]
Return to Oct 2009
Let me whisk you back to my second section of this wonderful Camino and please bear with me while I strive as quickly as I can to bring us up to date. On May 3rd this year and just before I set off for France I’d got you as far as Espalion where Teresa and I had celebrated the days walk in a pavement cafe of sorts and also had been offered the choice of about 10 different deserts after dinner. Let’s pick up the morning after on October as we left the hotel, our destination for the night, Estaing [...]
Can’t stop walking
Came back from France on Thursday 12th arriving home about 8.00 in the evening and by Saturday 14th Teresa and I were out again with the East End Girls on a 10 mile walk. You can catch up with that on our East End Girls blog. Then on Sunday the theme was still walking but this time on the big screen. Not wanting to miss ‘The Way’ Teresa and I met up in Islington where we went to the Vue cinema where (apart from another couple) we had Martin Sheen all to ourselves as he walked the Camino de Santiago [...]
We’re back.
5 fabulous days of walking although three were around 20 miles so some very long days; wonderful scenery and amazing medieval hilltop towns; new staring points and great food. Now we’re getting used to life back in the big smoke and away from rural France so it’ll be a day or two till I catch up but then I’ll finally get up to date with this wonderful experience so you can share in it as best you can without walking a step!! Buen Camino!!
An experience to get back on the Camino
September 28th 2009 It was challenging and confusing trying to organise train travel to and from France for this stage of the Camino so after much deliberation, we flew from Stansted to Rodez from where we’d been told we’d be able to get a taxi. It was by far the most direct, the most time efficient and train compared to flight, the cheapest. The taxi factor was a cause for financial concern though but what’s the option? So far so good and happily 3 taxi drivers all at the airport when we arrived. Not quite so good when they started [...]
Exhausted and excited
Well it’s been a very productive day but not at all what I had planned which just goes to show that the best laid plans etc. I’m delighted to have, at last, documented the first stage of the Camino for Teresa and me. It’s long overdue but I think it looks great and it has definitely got me so excited about setting out again on Thursday. I have a really busy two days before then so whether I get more written or not about sections two and three will have to be seen. I’m off now for a good night’s [...]
Final Day of this stage as we head to Aumont-Aubrac
October 6th 2008 An amusing breakfast this morning as this is very much a rural stop and run by a family so the gentleman overseeing breakfast this morning didn’t seem to be in his most comfortable environment. Still there was plenty of choice and we left feeling well fuelled for the day ahead. Our last day had a cloudier start which thankfully made it warmer. No headbands, gloves or hats needed this morning. We head up the track to join the path, somehow it’s a much shorter walk than at the end of yesterday and take a photo to mark [...]