Today was memorable. Breakfast with our host was like sitting with old friends. Claude and I had homemade chocolat chaud prepared by Goelle, and like every place before, there were several homemade jams to choose from.
Goelle and Frederic, met on the Chemin and changed their established lives to be hosts at Gite D’etape Escale Vavaire. They bought and restored a farm house and started the Gite. It is meaningful work. Interacting with and helping pelerins keeps the Chemin alive in their hearts.
Our walk this morning into Varaire for lunch provisions and beyond was cloaked in mist. The temperature was cool but comfortable and the forecast predicted a dry day.
We followed the trail markers to Mas de Vers where we followed a road to Labenques, the truffle capital of the world. Only one restaurant was open today and we didn’t bother translating before ordering the Menu of the Day. First course was a bowl of fried little fish, not canned sardines. They looked more like baitfish from a bait and tackle store. Mark D and I ate about half the little fish but Mark K was having none of it. The second course was paella with two fresh crawfish on top, still not in Mark K’s wheelhouse. For dessert we had fruit salad.
From there we followed vague directions and a new trail. We ended up on a busy road walking by a go-cart track and an airport before stopping for Coca Zeros at a hotel. We even ordered an Uber to take us the final 7 km but the Uber driver cancelled on us. We punched Lhospitalet into Google Maps, set it for walking, and set off. All was well walking past the solar farm and the ATV dirt track, but eventually we were just walking across a farmer’s field. We reached a road and 1.5 hrs later, Lhospitalet.
Following this detour from the established route is common to avoid an industrial city walk, shaving off half a day, but given the sun and heat, it was a challenge. The reward is that we were in Gite Convivale with five of our friends. Dinner was great and we were all happy to be sheltered from the thunder storm. Yes, a memorable day.