I would call today our first real day of rain in two weeks. We woke to steady rain on the Gite roof and it continued as we started walking at 7:30 am. Rain jackets and umbrellas were deployed. As happens every morning, we started to climb which was more challenging with only one hand free to hold a walking pole. By 9:30 am the rain was light enough that the umbrella was unnecessary so out came the second pole.
Sonia is from the Alsace region of France. She is a family and wedding photographer we met a few days earlier at a Gite. Sonia and her friend Melissa are walking the Chemin Le Puy.
Melissa is also from Alsace, France. She and Sonia are walking the Chemin Le Puy together.
At the same time, breakfast hunger set in. I had purchased chocolatiers yesterday but they lose something as day olds. We were hoping the village we were close to would have a restaurant or cafe so we left the trail and climbed the hill. No restaurants, no cafes, but there was a “Salle de fetes” (community hall) with a white tent set up and people milling about. We approached and spied croissants in the main door. They served us three coffees, three Coca Zeros, and three croissants for 12 Euros. I think it was a church breakfast in the tent but to us it was an oasis.
Cedric is from a suburb of Paris. He wild camped, stayed in his tent, whenever he could avoid the rain along the Chemin Le Puy. We met him several times, this time at the Sunday Market in Limonge.
Jacqueline is from France, but lives in Oregon, US. Last year she walked Camino Frances and like me, returned to walk the Chemin Le Puy after hearing it recommended by other pelerins.
By 12:00 pm we reached Limonge, a small town alive with people. Many of the same vendors we saw at the market in Cajarc yesterday were set up here today. We went from restaurant to restaurant without luck. We really wanted to sit out of the light rain but space was limited. We eventually ate lunch from a Thai food truck with an entertaining vendor. It turns out, Pad Thai in cardboard takeout containers in a light rain was just what we wanted.
Lawrence and Lila operate a Thai food truck at the Sunday Market in Limonge. Lawrence was very friendly and their food, tasty.
The walk from Limonge to the farm Gite near Vavaire where we stayed was dry. We opted for the road to cut 2km off our walk and arrived at 3:00 pm. Our hosts, Frederic and Goelle, met on the Chemin and changed their established lives to operate this Gite. They bought and restored this farm house and started the Gite. It is meaningful work. Interacting with and helping pelerins keeps the Chemin alive in their hearts.