An amusing breakfast this morning as this is very much a rural stop and run by a family so the gentleman overseeing breakfast this morning didn't seem to be in his most comfortable environment. Still there was plenty of choice and we left feeling well fuelled for the day ahead.
Our last day had a cloudier start which thankfully made it warmer. No headbands, gloves or hats needed this morning. We head up the track to join the path, somehow it’s a much shorter walk than at the end of yesterday and take a photo to mark the joining with the Camino again. From there we walk down to St Alban and Teresa takes an opportunity to stretch, it feels weird that this is the last day and I can’t believe that it’s all gone so quickly.
We stepped out through the woods and down to the little hamlet of Rouget named because of the red stone in the area. Here also the mainly red-tile roofs characteristic of the area and mentioned before change to grey slate.
An information point here gives us more information about the Camino, always worth taking time to read up a little on things.
From there it was on down to St Alban itself which was all closed up for some reason. Not even the locals seemed to know why.
Noticed a number of carved sculptures here too, like the one above, there’s clearly a story here.
No chance to buy anything for lunch so when we saw a tabac open we decided we should take advantage and think through our plans. The hot chocolate was good and the two women also on the route joined us there. Outside we met the German couple confused like us about this closure.
Before leaving St Alban we decided to visit the church which is the romanesque church of St Alban. There was a wonderful modern stained glass window which really stood out. While standing in the aisle of the church I decided to do a lunge which to this day Teresa remembers, she thought I’d suddenly turned really religious, we still laugh about it.
Down to short sleeves now, the heat was building, what fab weather to finish this section in style.
There are so many different signs and everytime I think there can't possibly be a different one there is. I've probably photographed them all by now but rest assured I'm not about to display them.
This one is pretty in it's simplicity and does all it needs to do having an arrow, the red and white stripe, GR65 and for good measure the scallop shell. I think you can probably begin to see what I mean about it being hard to get lost as the signage is so clear.
From here the path becomes a broad gravel one and at this point the two women who we'd had hot chocolate with pass us, it may be the last time we see them so we are keen to speak and utter a farewell.
They stride out and we walked through some wonderful woods marvelling at the views, the scenery and the colour against the sky.
At the top of the gravel path we stop to look at one of the tall stone crosses and also to zip off the legs of our walking trousers allowing us to walk in shorts. Here we meet the German couple again and stop to take some photos of each other. It's the kind of thing you do on the last day.
We ambled along chatting and soaking up the atmosphere, delighted at how well we were doing and enjoying the sun.
As Teresa and I walked further there was a rustle in the undergrowth and a red squirrel emerged pine cone in in his mouth. It stopped and then shot off wanting to put as much space between us and it as possible.This was a first of a number of interesting sights in the woods that day.
Not long after we came across this fun metal mask, perhaps it was the beast.
We also came across a well built shelter which really did look as if it was being used - by who I wonder? It looks rather cosy.
Below are more photos taken on our last day, mot don't really need any explanation.
As lunch time approached we found out a good rock outcrop for a picnic lunch, thank goodness for the apples from this morning and then we pooled the rest of our resources and managed to have a decent lunch and all this in the sunshine too. It was good to have our batteries recharged and to feel energised as after lunch it was, yes you got it - up, up and up again so much so that my legs wanted to go on strike. I think it was something to do with knowing it was the last day.
We only had a kilometer of this and then we could fork off right down a shady walled lane where on a tree we found this prayer for all pilgrims and a scallop shell.
It was here also that we caught our last sight of our lovely German couple as they walked ahead in the sunshine.
The first thing we wanted was a beer in the sun but no where did that so we found the hotel then sorted a taxi and returned to the hotel where we met up with those 3 lovely men from day one who still had another day to go.
They told us that there’d be a train strike tomorrow. Couldn’t find anything on the net so we were feeling pretty confident.
To celebrate we had a couple of beers, a croque monsieur and then a little visit to the church which was rather dark but again (like the church in St Alban) had wonderful modern stained glass windows.
Getting a taxi back to Le Puy was interesting and we were able to relive parts of our journey along the route. Hard to believe that we walked all that way. We were pretty tired and the beer probably added to it so we yawned our heads ff and all thoughts of going out on the town evaporated. Instead we changed and choose to have dinner in the hotel restaurant where we’d eaten on our first night, seems like a lifetime away now.
Next morning we sat at breakfast and watched a group of women who were clearly starting the Camino that day. We felt like experienced pilgrims by now and although looking forward to getting home we also felt a little sad to be leaving this all behind. Before checking out we wandered up through the town to buy some local products of cheese, wine etc to take home.
Back at Le Puy station, relaxed and feeling very pleased with ourselves and planning the celebratory glass of champagne on Eurostar as well as the next stage...wonder when that will be?
This looks absolutely awesome Heather!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the next chapter...... can't wait to hear more about it.
Jo x