Well my Achilles was still not happy so I decided to bus forward again to limit the pain and still enjoy the chemin. Madame F also decided to participate due to numerous issues with feet including blisters and pain. And surprisingly our other Fromargerie friend with the sore knee was also heading forward to give it a break. We had all had good luck at the pharmacy the day before in Aumont Aubrac (a pharmacy visit is a true bonding experience on any camino 😜) and obviously an afternoon swim had helped but not completely resolved the many foot and knee issues being encountered.

Anyway we all boarded the bus and Madame F and I jumped out at Quatre Chemins and as we disembarked we saw the Wild Man from Byron lazing about after another early start to beat the heat. He had already finished for the day and I was just about to begin. Madame F arranged to stay at our drop off point and they both decided to walk half way with me to my next Gite just for something to do and we could have a picnic before they returned to their digs.

We thought a river shown on various maps would be a good destination and so we walked on down the tracks which, for a change, were mostly on flat ground. It was still hot as hell but the company and the conversation made the travel quite enjoyable as did a little shade for a change. There also seemed to be a lot of new pilgrims passing us so we concluded many must have started in Aumont Aubrac.

There were boardwalks across the marsh land all though sighting of marsh or of water was limited however the grass was greener on this side and frankly greener than we had seen in a while.

We kept walking looking for this darn river.

Eventually we just settled on a location under a couple of trees we could see in the distance. It was clear the river was a figment of someone’s imagination or occurred only after winter when the snow melted.

After a few poses I bid my companions farewell as they disappeared back down the track to the 4 Chemins.

I continued on to my Gite which was another couple of kms down the track and not quite as accommodating as the one Madame F would stay in. I couldn’t access my room until 4 and it was too hot and too far from anywhere to fill the time – there wasn’t even any phone signal or wifi to update my blog. I was able to get a bucket for soaking my feet before the Gite owners disappeared inside and locked the door however relaxing at the back of the Gite on broken chairs (as recommended) was not a great relief. Anyway it was only to be a small amount suffering for another unique experience in rural France!

I eventually walked back up from the broken chairs at the back of the Gite to fill the time drinking syrup that had been left for arrivals and i chatted with a Chilean who had been tracing his ancestry across the globe. Eventually the door was opened again and I was given a room and able to rest before a pleasant evening meal on a long table outside the dining area. I met a German lady who could speak English and a french family whose father could speak English however the rest of the conversation was in French as you would expect, I am in France after all!

Bon nui.