Our itinerary and all our accommodation was arranged by Sherpa Walking Holidays.
We had quite a lot of rain in the night, but as dawn broke it revealed just a slightly drizzly morning.
The croissants were good and they declined to accept my offer of payment for last nights wine. My French really wasn’t up to clarifying that we had not paid for it.
A fresh loaf of dark doughy bread, some more tomatoes and a dry sausage purchased we headed off into the mist, soon passing under the A 75 autoroute.
As graffiti goes, I think was pretty good.
A mile or so after the A75 we arrived at La Chaze de Peyre.
It has all essential facilities.
And a little church in the square.
A short while later we reached the D987 road and the pretty little Chapelle de Bastide.
The countryside was changing from predominantly woodland to more arable land with friendly livestock.
And then to a much more open landscape.
I haven’t shown you the way mark signs. They frequently appear on walls, trees, buildings and make the written descriptions of the path almost unnecessary.
Although I loved walking through the woodlands yesterday this spacious open land has its own charm and lots of beautiful cattle.
Isn’t she gorgeous!
Between la Fouelle and our destination we were reminded of the Yorkshire Dales but these occasional massive boulders distinguished it from the more familiar British landscape.
And the lichen encrusted walls were of granite.
In this part of the world most buildings are roofed with attractive curved slates.
The red-berried sorbus are the main remaining trees and positively glow in the landscape.
By 12.30 we had walked 11 miles and we lunched here. It was hot and sunny now and the views were fabulous.
Before reaching Nasbinals the path drops down to a river near Montgros and we walked along the totally quiet D900 to cross this pretty bridge.
As we climbed up to our highest point of the days walk at 4000 feet I chatted to French man in his 70’s who was meeting his granddaughter in Nasbinals. I managed a good 20 minutes of simple conversation, which I was rather pleased about.
And I said hello to another donk,
We were both pretty tired by this time but this didn’t tempt us.
Though from the look of Bobs big toe, we might have problems tomorrow. Stop reading now if you’re squeamish.
Ok, I need to concentrate now. We had a weird starter of a savoury bread thing with ratatouille followed by thin cut pork chop with disgusting cheesy potatoes followed by an excellent chessboard which we destroyed , then a choc mouse.
To drink:
And then
And then it all got out of hand.
Yuk!!! We didn’t need to see it!
Glad you found some toilets and drinking water: this blog is improving by the day.
Apart from toe nails.
This is a warts and all blog. My toenails are fine, thank you.
Xx
We can do without your warts too..
Poor Bob! But that toe looks like a fungal infection rather than wear and tear from walking. If so, it won’t get painful for ages yet, if ever. Just watch for any sign of a little split in the nail (a plaster will protect it if needed).
I would be suspicious of a loo which advertised drinking water as the French are getting the recycling habit!
I am also getting suspicious of your taste in females though I would go so far as to say she has rather alluring eyes!
And I limit myself to one exclamation mark per paragraph though have graduated to a double pimp, did you notice?
Thanks for your opinion about the toe and I passed on your sympathy! I have had complaints about the toe graphics, so readers here may have to be content with references only. Photographs of the progress if the toe will be available, though, on request.
You haven’t nailed removal of that pic yet but the new last one gives rise to excruciatingly painful aches in my head as I imagine the singing and so distracts from the earlier one.
The nail stays – on the blog. Jury’s still out about if it remains on the foot.
What lovely walking countryside and cute donkeys. Not so keen on the toe, though. Those curved slates are very common here in Ariège, lovely aren’t they. I’m glad you found a dépôt de pain today and ‘I didn’t have enough French to tell her we didn’t pay for the wine’ is the best excuse I’ve heard in a while. All in all you’re best post so far.
Hi Gilly! I did like the donkeys but I want to bring home one of the cows and buy a field for it, just so I can see it everyday. More of them today! Yes, top notch excuse for non payment of booze eh!
This blog and the photographs is wonderful, the latter make all the difference. I feel as though I am almost there with you.
Sorry about the bells this morning though!
I want to know and see photos of the poorly toe even if Anne doesn’t.
Waiting for next installment x
That’s a lovely comment Maggie. XX.
Hope you stay with me. Feels nice to think of you (and the other select band of followers) being alongside.