Time Departed: 8.15am
Time Arrived: 2.45pm
Distance: 23
Cumulative Distance: 195 kms
Percentage Completed: 25% (313,00 steps)
Weather: Early fog, cool and warm and sunny in the afternoon
Accommodation: Hotel-Restaurant de la Vallee d’Espeyrac
Feelings: Neil - Happy, Henk - Better, Di - Positive
We have reached a quarter of the way to St Jean Pied de Port. Whilst we felt good we weren’t looking forward to climbing 900 metres through the day. At the end of the day Henk’s GPS said we had climbed 710 metres and we were thankful for that. We set out in a cold fog and flat walking alongside a small tarmac road for about an hour. The road paralleled the beautiful Lot River which was on our right and it very quiet and atmospheric.
When we started climbing we took it slowly. It was a combination of walking on the edge of winding, mountain roads and through steep, cool forests and country lanes. We passed many high fields where which were filled with dandelions, buttercups and also large pink clover.
When we reached the first high point of 650 metres about ten o’clock we congratulated ourselves with a Kitkat. The walk was flat for a while for which we were grateful. The walk continued along many pretty lanes and forests. During the afternoon we were pleased to be walking through the forests as there was a significant drop in temperature and it was very cooling.
At twelve o’clock we reached a shop and had a cool drink. We didn’t realise we were so close to Golianhac which was around a corner and only about two hundred metres away. We sat under a large tree on a small stone wall and ate our lunch which we purchased in Estaing. Henk and I are enjoying quiches the size of small plates and Neil is enjoying his daily ham baguette.
The small hamlet of Golianhac had catered for the pilgrims with a toilet and seating. The seating was in the sun and we find many of our fellow walkers love soaking up the sun. The church at Golianhac, the Church of St Martin, is a 14th century structure modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The highest point of the day was just after Golianhac at 675 metres.
After lunch we had about nine kilometres to go. The afternoon warmed up and we were thankful for shade when we could get it. It was a lovely afternoon and we walked through very pretty countryside and the beautiful views over far mountains and forests continued.
When we started to descend we could not see Espeyrac. We knew it was a tiny village with only 250 people but it was not in sight. Espeyrac sits deep in a valley at 396 metres and we finally saw it about four hundred metres from the township.
After arriving we all had a hot shower. Henk and I slept for about an hour. Our hotel is the only one in town and seems to be the meeting place for the locals. It was a lazy, sunny Friday evening and they sat on the street enjoying each other’s company.
Dinner was in the hotel restaurant at seven thirty. We were very hungry. Tomorrow is a short day of 12kms. We then have a rest day in Conques.
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