Well my pickup from Estaing was unusual as I had a chauffeur prive! A private driver who spoke very little English which complemented my very little French!

This was a longer drive than previously through some challenging walking terrain. It wasn’t strictly mountainous but it wasn’t far off for the pilgrims I occasionally spotted panting on the trail side. I was pleased to have a chauffeur in this heat and in them there hills! We stopped in the village of Golinac which looked magnificent for a stopover but I was heading to a place often described as the most beautiful village in France so had no time to visit. Anyway we eventually picked up a french lady in Golinac and she and the chauffeur had a lot to say to each other as we continued on to Conques. I marvelled and the greenery after travelling through brown for quite a few days. It was actually hard to imagine there were still people walking in the heat!

Anyway we were dropped unceremoniously at the bottom of the the village and I made my way up to the hotel booked by the choirmaster. She and Linda lifesaver who had been the provider of first aid at the scene of my first and only ambulance ride in 2018 were arriving the next day to continue on the camino with me. Little did they know how hot it actually was in these cold looking places!

I actually did some site seeing and filled in the day quite easily looking at relics, glass and tourists also seeing the occasional bunch of pilgrims limping up and down stairs! I even introduced myself in french to a priest while seeking directions to the abbey where the other pilgrims were staying. This was a very steep town located on a very steep hillside!

I bid farewell to a number of french pilgrims who I had met along the way when they were either walking, eating or catching the various buses! It was a standard stopping point for many french who would come back next year and start the next stage.

Surprisingly it actually rained however it didnt seem to cool things down much at all.

The Choirmaster and lifesaver arrived and, before we left the next day, I was able to bid farewell to the Wild Man from Byron as we were jumping forward and he was taking a well earned rest day after braving the heat and hills non stop since Le Puy! I was so glad to hear he was finally resting as he was looking just a bit shattered!

Well I was also glad my two dear friends had arrived with the same courage and fortitude as me! We were going to use our many fans!

We watched the light show, saw some more relics, and the next day we caught the bus up the hill and out of town thinking we had dodged a bullet by missing the last big hill of the chemin – if only that were true…..

Au revoir !