Any time you have to walk 20kms on pavement with a pack it's tough on the body and joints. Such was our walk today. However, all was forgiven when we found the beauty of the route. Before I begin with that story I'd like to relate just a little about last evening. After cleaning up and posting the blog we walked out to see a little of Moissac. In the heart of town is a beautiful old church, I know, what a surprise!
Inside was quite nice, but what we came to see was a small group of 7 nuns singing vespers. For about 15 minutes their high voices filled the inside of this large cavern. It was really quite special, in spite of the guy who decided that parts of the performance were a crowd sing-a-long. A terrible, deep voice. Even the nuns were looking at him somewhat annoyed as he kind of blew their harmony to pieces!
Very quickly town is left behind and shortly the Garonne River appears on the left with the canal to the right. Early morning light and it's a very pleasant walk.
Today was the first day that I could loose myself in the walk. We walked together, but just as often one of us would take the lead and walk off for a time. As the morning warmed the leaves began to quietly drop into the water, one at a time.
But still there was the natural beauty along the canal.
Then sadly it was time to leave the canal behind and cross the Garonne.
Then another stretch along a road through some nice farm country.
And into Auvillar. For the record, I crossed this bridge without trouble and even stopped to take a few photos.
Another very nice medieval town.
Afterwards we met up with our French companions and they generously hosted happy hour.
Then back to our gite for a lovely meal in the garden with real potatoes and everything! Yes we are now traveling in retirees haven. The kids are back at school and there are many young people walking, but I think the majority are a bit over 50?
This morning we were up and on our way by 7:30 and were we in for a treat just after leaving Moissac. The city is situated on the Le Tarn River and a canal runs through town and takes you out onto the trail.
Like I said, a nice way to begin the day and to wake up gently to the pounding if the road.
There was no where to stop for coffee, but neither of us were bothered overly much. We passed by our horse friends getting ready to begin their day.
Then there were the two ladies we'd met on the bridge in Cahors.
Then slowly bridges, trains and locks began to appear.
Auvillar on the bluff.
There are a few of them in this part of the world;-)
A nice lunch and now we are in our home for tonight. Out for dinner with our French crowd. There will be 7 of us for dinner in "Le Petite Palais" restaurant tonight!
About 436 kms travelled since I began in Le Puy. Just past the first quarter post of this journey.
Bon Chemin!
Some comments from Annemarie
Geoff has mentioned our French friends a couple of times. This is in reference to two couples who we've landed in the same accommodations with for the last several nights (ever since we started out from Cahors)...they've kind of taken us under their wing in terms of including us in dinner conversations, and teaching us some of the language. Which brings me to the topic of language...and how it impacts the Camino experience. One of the experienced French pilgrims commented last night that the experience on the Camino Frances didn't have the same ambience for her that it did on the Le Puy route. This is because on Le Puy the dominant language, by far, is French...while in Spain the experience is much more international, with the common language often defaulting to English. For us this means we are not able to have the same depth of conversation with our fellow pilgrims that we were able to have in Spain (even when Geoff was on the Plata). On the other hand we are getting a great French Immersion program. For the French (and those who speak it fluently such as our French Canadian friends), however, it stands to reason that they will have a deeper Camino experience here where the language and the culture are more familiar for them.
The walking experience itself was especially pleasant for me today, a stage just the right length for me (we were still first in as we have been every day), so while Geoff says we are slower paced than he would like, we're still fast...as many people comment as we pass them along the way (tu es vite)!
Au Revoir!
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