Yesterday we stayed in a small gite just outside town. As gites go it was fairly basic. However, what made it a real joy were the people we shared our evening with...or is that, shared their evening with us?
We arrived at the town of Montcuq where we took our morning break, something that has only started since Annemarie arrived. I think that I haven't practiced this in the past 47 stages I've walked solo. Mostly because there wasn't too many opportunities. Seems there are now and that we are stopping!
Seemingly making some progress. What's left is almost as far as I walked last year, (plus the 365-385kms already walked, plus some extra 100 kms for planned variants). I guess that makes it a number not really worth contemplating at this point. So I won't. I've learned that it's simply a moment, a stage, a day as I walk. Each moment passes by never to be captured again, just as the landscapes do. I look at them keenly knowing that I'll never pass this way again. Burned into my memory with the simple process of capturing an image with my camera. Never then forgotten. Later I'll play them over again as I walk at home on the same old, same old trails. New trails and vistas is part of what makes this process so special.
Then we headed back out into the hills. Again the textures were there.
Sorry about all the photos today, but it's the only way I thought you could see a bit of what I saw today.
Hey Cindy. No one said it had to be a sober sort of place every day! I know you like to laugh...can hear you right now!
As I've said before, the French folks that I've met on this journey have gone above and beyond to be inclusive, insuring that I am part of the evening conversation. Last night was over the top as they all decided that Geoff was going to speak French all evening so that he could learn. It was pretty difficult, but highly entertaining for everyone else! At the end of 'class' they asked where we were staying tonight. We told them the name of our gite and they all smiled and advised me that the lesson would continue tonight and to come prepared...sigh. Great fun. I think?
Today we woke to find grey skies and that it had rained in the night. We set off and as I walked I thought to myself that the photos would be so much better if I just had a little sun. After all there was nothing really breath taking today in the terms of sights to be seen. However as I walked along I began to notice the landscape. I mean, really notice. The trail has become smooth enough that for the most part I don't have to watch where I put my feet much of the time. This freed my eyes to have a real look at what I passed. I started to see patterns.
A pretty hill town and a good place to rest.
Home tonight. A medieval hill town. Time to go have a look at this gem!
A couple of other moments from the day.
Bon Chemin!
3 comments:
I'm glad--je suis heureux--that you are stopping for a morning break. With coffee and pastry or without? There's a difference between fresh pastry and a Clif bar that's been at the bottom of your bag for two weeks. I've had both and I know which I prefer!
Do you know I saved my power bars until the second-to-last day of my Camino, the 36 km from Arzua to Monte do Gozo? They were hardly recognizable but they kept me going.
Imagine, Geoff, you'll be bilingual by the time you get back to Canada! Another gift of the Camino.
Love the photos of the donkey and the cat. And the single sunflower in the field.
My face lit up after hearing about the "Geoff only speaks french" night! I can't wait to hear all you have learned when you return...proud of you for persevering with your French!! Looks like another beautiful day on the trail...loved the photos of the donkey and kitty cat.
Another cloudy day in Vancouver but the sun is supposed to return tomorrow..fingers crossed. Only 5 more days off until school starts...C'est La Vie!
Love you both. xo Cait
Hi Geoff and Annemarie
We were struck by your comments about 'noticing, really noticing' the landscape you walked through and the subtlety of the textures and colours in your photos. There's such richness, always, but it's so easy to pass by half-seeing or half-awake, so it seems really significant that something has opened your eyes in a new way today - maybe it's to do with being out there for a while now, so you are becoming attuned to the deeper and more subtle elements of the place. We were also struck by what seems to be the older age of the pilgrims on this route - is that right? Don't seem to be so many younger folk at the gites or on the trail? Maybe most of them come in at St Jean?
Annemarie, how are your legs, your knee feeling today? Looks like a beautiful point to have picked up the path. We're with Ken and Annemarie on the morning stops ... and yes, pastry definitely better than crushed, 2-week old muesli bar!
We know it's on our blog already - but Geoff - the well-known Mary Oliver words came to mind when you wrote about noticing: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. Thanks for doing all three, for us.
Bon chemin
Sarah and Neil
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