Back track dear friends to Oct 2008

The symbol of the Camino

October 3rd 2008

It's rather embarrassing that as Teresa and I pack and plan for section 4 of the Camino that my photos and updates of the whole journey are no further than part of Day 1. It's always been my intention to get it up to date and preferably before we start section 4 but there's loads of work, time is tight etc,

However this morning with a great plan of work ahead, my Thunderbird has crashed and has a 'Can Not Do' attitude. I could scream and shout, I could get depressed or I could look at this as a gift and take the opportunity to update the Camino trip and share with you our experiences and photos.

Are you ready?

Day 1 on Oct 3rd 2008 and Teresa and I are getting into the swing of the Camino. We're sussing out the signage which is magnificent, so good in fact that I can put the book away and enjoy the walk knowing that there will be frequent signs. How lovely is that?

This is the land of the lentils, go look in your store cupboard, have you any Puy lentils?

Below is some information about the church of St Christophe. Written in English, I found it really useful and really added to my understanding of the whole history. The church itself is below.

 

I love this photo of Teresa as she enjoys a rest in the sun and reads up on where we are heading next. That wonderful tree was made for just an occasion like this, giving shade from the sun at this time, but I'm sure at others, shelter from rain.

We were only 3 kms into our journey here but taking our time drinking in the whole experience and wanting to make sure that we didn't go wrong.

The next church we would come across would be La Chapelle Saint Roch, a 13th century Romanesque chapel dedicated to the patron saint of pilgrims. It's lovely to step inside there chapels and churches, to feel the history and also to enjoy the peace and calm that is always there.

Chapelle  Saint Roch

Why is it that when you have decided that you want lunch that where you are aiming for seems to get further and further away? At this time too, the scenery became less inspiring and the wind was chilled.

We were heading for Montbonnet, still when we did get there the Croques Monsieur were fabulous and we had the place to ourselves. Great food of the country and very satisfying.

When we came out it had been raining but was now dry, what timing and still dry the way was up and along more interesting pathways, I was loving this. Then we had hailstones, noisy and unexpected and it only early October. Of well, ensures you take nothing for granted.

We had a walk through wonderful woodland where we got very hot. It's shade was very welcome and as you can see in places it was so shaded that muddy areas had never really dried out.

Part of the woodland was commercially managed as you can see below, all the trees cut and sorted ready to be transported further.

When we emerged it was into an open area with an amazingly deep and wide valley ahead. A wind farm appeared over to our left, 5 large turbines and I learned that Teresa loved them as much as I did. For me they are gentle giants moving across the landscape and looking after us and much preferred to a nuclear power station.

We walked down into Le Chier and I noticed a path to Didier d' Allier, that was to come back and haunt us!!!

Towards the end of the day as we walked through wonderful woodland, the scenery is stunning we met up with the German guy and walked into St Privat D'Allier with him. En route, we passed a house which would have been an old mill house set in a shady spot beside the river.

It felt great to have completed day one so we sat down on a wall to eat and apple and work out where our hotel was. We were also contemplating where we should go for that well deserved beer.


Sadly, we discovered that we were not staying in St Privat but a hamlet called La Grangette on the other side of St Didier. Not amused we set off on the road and discussed the inefficiency of UTracks who stated that our destination was St Privat. If we'd know that we would have taken that path!

4.5 k along a road when you think you've finished is not fun and as it was it zigzagged round the valley.  We did find interesting things to cheer us up though, what do you make of the boots? Could be an interesting story there.

At the road down to St Didier we were confused further as to whether we should go down into the village or follow the main road. another mistake and we took the village route. After wandering around we asked some people and with messages and directions about sheep and chapels we headed down a grassy track. The house by the chapel was shut up so we turned, retraced steps again and finally after walking up a steep slope and emerging onto the main road, we found a Chambres des Hotes called La Grangette .... but how were we to know?

 Our hosts were terrific, they were sheep shearers and we had rather a surreal dinner being invited to a dinner party with 6 others. Thankfully Teresa's french is superb so she translated for me. It was not at all the more formal dinner I associate with the French but full of laughter, bawdy jokes and plenty of wine. The food, all home made was stunning and included an elderflower apperitif and some dust mite cheese, yes, Teresa and I tried that.