You are in luck today...a sunset...
What a special day! We also had a moment as we headed out of town this morning...pretty tacky Camino, but we like it.
Beautiful hill country just made for a stroll!
This little gem was the Chapelle Stainte Germaine.
Then off we went again past the white grapes that are considered to be quite speciall in this area. I can attest to their excellent qualities...a little pilgrim shrinkage!
We walked on...and came across this very nice dog. Now if I was to look for another dog one day, then this type might fit the bill. I wonder what breed it is?
Then as we walked along...
It happened. We've arrived in the Armagnac area. Something I've been looking forward to. Let the tasting begin!
Also we have arrived in the three musketeers area where D'Artagnon was raised. We took Bryan on his 9th birthday to D'Artagnon's place of birth for lunch to celebrate the day.
A nice welcome to Condom and our first view of the Pyrenees. Hard to see in this photo, but I have traversed almost 500kms and we are getting closer to the mountains. We should see them every day when it's clear until we cross them.
Tomorrow we will cross the bridge where the marker sits proclaiming just 1,000kms to Santiago if you take the Camino St Jacques route. Closing in on Condom...
We have just finished a very nice pizza lunch and it's time to have a look around.
and the sunrise!
The walk today was again through some very nice country.
Given my lower leg injury we made the decision to not walk the additional 8kms to the World Heritage town of La Romieu. We were sorry to miss it until we realized just how many special places we have been fortunate to visit in our travels. Once justified in our minds, we walked on without concern. There is so much to see along the way.
There were two deer just above us a moment before I snapped this photo. No fear, we have just a few thousand at home!
Extremely sweet and good flavour.
Pretty hard to be disappointed on a sunny day. You'd have to be a bit nuts not to appreciate what you were walking through.
A funny thing happened as I walked today. I've developed a lump against my shin bone and the pain centers mainly there. Towards the end of the stage I had one then very soon after a second shot of lightning pain that stopped me cold. After the second shot the lump was gone and with it much of the pain. Geoff is a happier hiker again! Funny things can indeed happen on the way to Santiago and I think I just experienced one of them. A little ice and we will see what things look like tomorrow.
Bon Chemin!
4 comments:
Hope that was a miracle cure and your leg holds up now, Geoff. You are into the part of the walk that I loved! I'm enjoying following you two along the way.
Wendy
Hi Geoff and Annemarie: This is a continuation of the comment I tried to send yesterday and somewhere along the processing route it didn't pass approval of the ROBOT. Too bad as it contained all updated developments on the Labour Day weekend in Victoria - the good weather we were having - visit with Kathy on her birthday weekend - The Classic boat show in the Inner Harbour and the hot dog lunch at the Legislature. Having brought you up to date just wanted to say we were sorry about the foot and leg problems you have experienced and are hopeful that whatever happened today may result in some easing of the pain. Difficult situation when you can't nip down the street to your doctor for a check up.
We have certainly enjoyed the wonderful pictures of the areas you are now walking through - what a treasure of subjects to view as you round each corner and crest each hill.
Take care of yourselves. Keep trekking - but not too fast!!
Cheers Dad
Wonder what that painful knot was. A muscle spasm? Happy to hear that it's gone and hope that the ice pack works. Some cold beer, even some armagnac, might also help. Enjoy your walk tomorrow!
Hi Geoff and Annemarie
A little cluster of symbolic milestones today, which must have been very nice - seeing the Pyrenees for the first time, the welcome into Condom, and the 1000km to go way-marker coming up ... Neil says it reminds him of the Buddhist saying, 'Everything changes'. When you're walking slowly it can seem as though you're not getting anywhere, and yet as you become attuned to the subtleties of the landscape, you realise that everything is changing (a bit like the photo of that little bridge - you could make that transition almost without realising you were making one). Mind you, the change in your leg seemed quite sudden and dramatic, and is hopefully sustained!! The other thing about these major way markers that we felt was a kind of mixed feeling - on the one hand, satisfaction and accomplishment and on the other, not wanting the journey to be over too quickly.
We hope this coming day is as sunny and beautiful - and look forward to hearing more of the town of Condom which (from the message on the way marker and the looks of the pizza) promises well!
Bon chemin
Neil and Sarah
Post a Comment