The last few days

We are still doing fine, just haven't taken the time to post, as we're enjoying spending time with our friends. The last few days have been beautiful for walking, and the trail so enjoyable. We've been through many vineyards, as well as old railway lines that are now green spaces. Our friends have seen lots of variety in the terrain. The kilometres seem to go by quickly when we're visiting, and our day is over before you know it. We have tried to keep the kilometres to 20 or less, but yesterday (Wednesday) we had to do 25 in order to reach our destination, L'Arbladoise, which is about 3 km past Nogaro. Our reward was having a swim in the pool after checking in! What a treat.

Some of the highlights lately:

In Condom, having two elderly people come up and greet us effusively at a sidewalk cafe, tell us how they were once pelerins and wish us the best. I didn't understand everything they said, but the message was clear, and we really appreciated it!

View from bridge in Condom

Cathedral in Condom

Watching grape harvesting that was all done by machine....it simply goes down the rows and vibrates the branches so that all the grapes fall off into a container, which is later dumped into a truck. The vines are left with the grape stems still hanging, but completely empty - amazing.

Having a great Italian dinner in Eauze at Pizzeria La Trattoria. We highly recommend this restaurant. It is a small family run restaurant that has very good food.

Stopping at a pilgrim rest stop that included hot water, tea bags, and coffee for tired pilgrims. I had told our friends about these little gems that we have seen, so it was nice that they could experience it firsthand.

Getting our first glimpse of the Pyrenees! Hard to believe we will be back there in just over a week.

Meeting a nice young man from Bulgaria who is walking to Santiago, and was just sitting outside a chapel today reading on his Kobo. He is sleeping in his tent most of the time, to save money, and had no idea when he will get to Santiago, but plans to take the Camino Norte rather than the Camino Frances.

Weather was perfect until today (Thursday). We woke up to rain and had to use our ponchos several times while walking. The highs have been in the mid 20's, so it's warm.

Tonight we are in the most fabulous Chambre d'hôtes yet....the name is La Bastide du Cosset, and the town is Barcelonne du-Gers. Another lovely old home with large rooms, beautifully updated bathrooms, and a pool and hot tub for the guests (which we have enjoyed already, and made use of the complimentary bathrobes). Dinner is cooking downstairs, and smells wonderful....will report on that later. Tomorrow we walk into Aire-sur-L'Adour (only 2 km away), where our friends will leave us on Saturday to head back to Denmark.

Au revoir....will post some photos now.

 

 

 

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