Stage 36: Aire-sur-l'Adour - Pimbo, 26 kms, Cloud & Sun, 8-22 through the day.

"Le Mais Rue Bleu"

We found our way onto the Chemin today, but before departure we took some time to have a look at this historic little town which has been supporting the Camino in this area since the XI century. 

We stopped in to see the oldest church in this area dating from the same time and we were very nicely welcomed by the volunteers who gave us some refreshments and a stamp for our credential. The church is UNESCO protected and registered for its long pilgrim history. 

It's stunning inside!

We had an excellent pizza dinner at a restaurant in town and this morning we were on the road by 8:30 just after sunrise.

As we climbed out of town and away from the river valley I was thinking how nice it was going to be to walk through some hilly farm country. But...

It looked just like the meseta! Where did this come from?

Corn everywhere! And so flat. 

They were trucking the stuff everywhere.

But then the landscape began to slowly change, and the sun came out as well.

We stopped in a small village after about 18 kms for a brief lunch...again a pretty little church graced the village. The noon bells rang out just as we went inside. They rang, no fake bells here! 

We had beautiful French bagetts and even a pastry to share. And then we were off into some beautiful farm land with rolling hills.

Ducks waiting to make everyone happy!

Lots of good feelings walking through the area. Definitely the right decision to return here and finish the Le Puy Chemin and complete our walking season.

An exceptional setting as we passed this 11th C church which was built by the English when they controlled this part of France.

Delighted to be walking in France again! Will have to give this some serious thought for the future.

Finally Pimbo came into view.

A lovely village.

And our home for tonight...how many beds does this make? A beautiful communal gite for tonight.

We found wifi in the community welcome facility and they are arranging food to be delivered to the gite for us tonight which we will cook up. The ancient monestery in this Gascon village was started by Charlemagne in the 8thC. So much history here! Many of the original buildings were destroyed by the Protestants, but much was restored in the 16thC.

Tomorrow a short day as we had to stage ourselves for the remainder of the walk. Just 18-20. So a late morning and a slow day! 

Bon Chemin!