Today was a lucky day.
Breakfast at Gite D’Etape Place du Chateau in Auvillar was plentiful. Of all the gites we have stayed at, this is the one we least wanted to leave. We bid farewell to Christophe, the host and walked out anticipating rain for most of the day. Lucky for us, the first 15 km were dry.
Christophe is the host at Gite D’etape Place Du Chateau in Auvillar. He and his wife lovingly had the 18th century house retored after it had sat empty for 60 years.
Frank is from Belgium. He is walking with his friend Pierre. They started in Moissac and enjoy a good Belgium beer after a long day of walking.
Pierre is from Belgium. He is walking with his friend Frank. They started in Moissac and enjoy a good Belgium beer after a long day of walking.
John and his dog Barney are from England. They were on vacation, staying at a nearby rental and met us as we passed on the trail.
As we approached the town of Miradoux, in search of lunch, the sky was black. At 11:55 am we entered the lone restaurant and the hostess didn’t seem happy to see us. Lunch didn’t start until 12 pm. She seated us and took our orders ( I should say order as there was only one choice on the menu – a green salad, omlette, and fries for 10 euro) just as the sky opened up. Rain bounced off the road.
While we ate, an English couple we had met earlier and their dog Barney came in, followed by five more wet pelerins. Seven people in a small restaurant in a small town in France and we knew all of them. In fact I have taken portraits of all but one of them.
The afternoon threatened more rain so Mark D said he would say a little prayer at each church we passed for safe passage. We passed a lot of churches in the next 15 km. The rain only caught up to us as we entered Lectoure, our destination town.
We checked into the Gite l’Etoile Occitane and were offered an alternative to the bunk bed dorms which are now full. They had a bedroom with three beds for 12 euro more. We snapped it up.
The rain was done when we went looking for dinner at 7 pm. We passed many restaurants, checking menus, but kept looking. We found a bar in a park behind the church that served fish and chips and went in. Within minutes, our friend Claude came in with his visiting wife, followed by Victor, his sister, and Jean-Francois. The food was not memorable, but it may be the last day we see these friends as they take a day off.
As I said, it was a lucky day.