Espalion to Estaing

We left the comfort if our cabin after a leisurely start to the day. Inspection over and it was a 500m walk to our first stop.

COFFEE

When I checked my phone this morning at 8.00 it was already 16C and forecast was for 30C. Not so good having a late start, we will end up walking through the heat of the day.

Again today there were many uphills, which was quite surprising as we both started and finished in le Lot river and as expected it was hot.

Espalion

Today is rest day, a late start to the day. So it was IN to town for a coffee (read 2 coffees each) then off to the shops for breakfast. Melon, yogyog and bread purchased it was OUT of the town back to the cabin to eat, hang out our washing and watch others on the chemin amble past.

Afterwards it was back IN to town for some more shopping and then OUT again for lunch.

l’Estrade to Espalion

We had a lovely stop last night with wine compris and a shot if something very strong after dinner. Was so bad that they dipped sugar cubes into it and then sucked the liquid out of the cube.

Today we drop in elevation to Le Lot river. Again there are numerous ups and downs. We are both suffering but still keep pushing ourselves onward. We stop for a coffee in Saint Come-d’olt, if we had found something open we would have stopped. But alas there was nowhere, and google said it was only 5km to go.

Well that was a lie because after 5km there was still another 4km to go.

We eventually get to le Lot but are soon taken up a massive hill past a statue of the virgin Mary before eventually descending to our destination.

Today is festival day and we can hear the noise from the heights over 1km away. On our final walk along the river we spot a camp ground with cabins and we both decide a rest day is called for.

Nasbinals to l’Estrade

Finding our gite last night was closed we stayed in an hotel for the night. So this morning it was a walk back into town. What last night seemed to be 5km. turns out to be only 500m this morning.

A quick top up of provisions and it’s off we go again.

It does matter where we start from there always seems to be an uphill out of town. Today is no exception.

Again the walk is a mix of pasture and woods. The fields are seperated by stone walls and with the sweeping hills and rock outcrops remi ds my of Dartmoor.

Although we are now leaving the platau there is still a lot of up hill walking. Again the gps on the phone doesn’t seem to be tracking us and perhaps I should have gone for the extra weight and brought my Garmin.

Saint Alban-sur-Limagnole to Aumont-Aubrac

Today started off overcast and a little cool. So it was on with a thermal top and coat. After getting our provisions it was back on the road again.

After a short stretch on the road it was soon off onto tracks and across the French country side.

Having had a day of ups and a day of downs today was a day that every up seemed to have a down, and every down had an up. We are currently on the central platau at 1200m having started today at 1000m and after an initial climb of 200m there were several undulations of about 80m.

Overall a very pleasant stroll, even if it was 15km.

Le Sauvage to Saint Alban-sur-Limagnole.

Today as we looked out of our window our view was obscured. Gone were the distant views, these were now hidden by mist. We packed and went down for breakfast.

Again it was bread and coffee, only this time there were no cups, only bowls. The French were dipping the bread into their coffee ir chocolate before consuming it. I’m not sure why they did this as the bread wasn’t stale.

As we exited the gite we had to start off into a head wind. This was when I realised that the day wasn’t misty but we were up in the clouds.

With rain coat and cape we both proceeded onto the chemin yet again.

The damp air, it wasn’t really bad enough to call rain, didn’t dampen our spirits and we both soon burst into song.

We eventually descended enough to get out of the clouds and we both enjoyed our walk into Saint Alban-sur-Limagnole.

Saugues to Le Sauvage

A pleasant and easy walk today. But if only we had breakfast at 7.00 instead of 7.30. If only the first ATM was working and we didn’t have to go searching for another. If only we could find the patisserie that was open. If only we hadn’t stopped for lunch when we did. If only we hadn’t decided to walk another 8km to the next gite. We might have missed the rain on the last km of today’s walk.

Or perhaps it was just always there just waiting for us.

Monistroll d’Allier to Saugues

After the downhill of yesterday it is going to be up, up, up today.

But first of all it is bon chemin to Susan, Lynda and Jennifer. They are walking 26km today and decided to leave before breakfast, in the rain, to try and keep ahead of the predicted thunderstorms.

At breakfast we informed our host of their early departure. He gave a shrug and burst into song, “I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain”, with his French accent.

Other walkers had pre-warned us of the steep and difficult start to today’s walk. This however wasn’t as hard as expected.

The walk was pleasant with a couple of light showers before we arrived at Saugues, which was a welcome relief as thunder storms had been forecast.

Unfortunately the tracking app appears to have failed today. Perhaps I should have 2 apps recording our route.

Montbonnet to Monistroll d’Allier

Today is the day of downs, not our mood but our elevation.

Our maximum elevation was 1200mtr our minimum 600mtr our elevation loss was 816 mtrs.

Not sure about tomorrow as we have been told it is up, up, up.

Day one didn’t end too well, Jo walked down the 3 steps in the flat, unfortunately there were 4. Ankle twisted and sore she had a restless night. (That may have been due to my snoring.)

Low cloud for the start of the day, hopefully it will clear later.

Today we decided to have easy strolls around town. I strolled and Jo limped.