I think since my first camino on some of the steep descents I thought a slide would be a perfect addition. From St Jean Pied de Port to Ronscevalles for example. It would be terrifying as well as thrilling!! The slide is there and you jump on your backpack and ride down and land in a pile of pillows. I know I’m dreaming.

Today’s walk had one of those steep descents that could use a slide. You know it’s serious when there is a sign that says “dangerous descent”. And it was. But thank God it wasn’t raining or snowing, just some mud.

The day was spent in climbing and descending all day long. Our gite host the other day said after Cahors was flat. I have learned to ask…flat for the Netherlands or flat from someone from the Alps. This area is not flat at all.

We are in the medieval town of Laurzete. We were super tired when we got here and had some important things to do so we haven’t explored, we will tomorrow because we only have 13 kms to go to Durfort-Lacapelette and a Dutch host.

Even though it was such a difficult day looking back it seems easy. It wasn’t but at the end of the day, after a shower and a good dinner the difficult day is a sweet memory.

More news tomorrow…

Wow. Another day of difficult rocks and climbs. But also okay. We made some more decisions about moving forward which I will share in the next few days.

We had a lovely stay at Gite Mango. Phillipe was a gracious host and his dog Olaf was super. We had a great dinner and breakfast.

We are tired. We made it to Cahors. Got to our accommodation. We got cleaned up and ran errands, then to the cathedral and then to dinner. Of course you can’t eat dinner in France before 7. But we had a very nice dinner.

As we left we got a phone call from our host who was not happy that we left lights on. We were not happy he came in to the apartment when we were not here. Very strange. Oh well.

We will make our review tomorrow. In the meantime trying to find peace.

Well our feet are still struggling but not nearly as bad as yesterday. We are trying some new techniques which I will share shortly.

First I want to say we had a most amazing stay at L’escale de Variare with Gaëlle and Frederick. Our reception, room, dinner, conversation and breakfast were top notch!! We didn’t sleep great but I think that was over tiredness…although Gaëlle said we didn’t walk enough kms the day before!! 😂😂😂

Our day was a hit and miss of villages, openings and closings of cafes. The first village we got to the cafe didn’t open for another 45 minutes, the second cafe which was 3 kms away closed in 45 minutes, this is literally the story of our Camino.

At the first village we found a picnic table and sat for a rest. This included letting our feet air and dry, then reapplying NOK for protection. I changed the dressing on my toe and we changed socks. Then we were off again. But not before Noël got a photo with a boar. He finally found one.

Our next stop was a village to get a stamp at the Convent of Vaylats we got the stamp and a photo with Eric who works there. This is where the cafe closed at 12:30. It was 12:31. We arrived at the cafe and she was still open but just for drinks. Two beers please.

The church was locked so off we set again once we had let our feet aired and dried, and reapplied the NOK cream. We still had a ways to go but we came upon a stream…I said to Noël “hey! what did we say we would do if we came to a stream?” We crossed the bridge and took our shoes and socks off and put our tired feet in freezing cold water. I had to keep pulling mine out and commented that my feet were getting a brain freeze. But it was so nice.

After another 4 kms we found a place to sit off the road and relax. Again socks off, a change of socks, dry the feet. And then the last 3 kms, which always seems like the longest!!!

Our accommodation is nice and comfortable and we are the only ones here in the gite. Dinner is at 7.

We took a rest day yesterday in a very lovely gite/ hotel. Our host Cedric was so wonderful and easy going. If you happen to go to Cajarc, France check out hotel Peyrade and if you are a pilgrim let him know.

Our route was alternating on the road and on the official route. We did this because the official route is very stony and rocky and uneven and our feet after nearly 1400 kms are getting weary. I’m having a particularly bad time with my two smallest toes on my right foot. It doesn’t appear to be a blister but it is very irritated. Every day I treat it, clean it, try to keep the friction down and change socks. But after 7 kms they just start hurting. Noël actually had a blister. We had a woman fuss at us for walking on the road so we lit a candle for her later in the day.

Klaus is a German pilgrim who started in Le Puy and is walking 30+ kms everyday on his way to Pamplona. We met him today at one of our rest stops…we couldn’t find a place to sit so just plopped on the ground.

After 16 kms we found an open cafe still serving food. It was a most welcome respite. The staff were friendly and nice, and the food delicious!! And got a stamp in the church!

Our accommodation is very nice and again our hosts are super. Ursula, a fellow pilgrim whom we met in Nasbinals is here as well. Our dinner with the hosts is at 7:15, we always look forward to dinner with hosts!!! My only concern is using the toilet in the middle of the night. 😂