Time Departed: 8.45am
Time Arrived: 4.40pm
Distance: 27kms
Cumulative Distance: 402 kms
Percentage Completed: 52% (674,900 steps)
Weather: Overcast and warm
Accommodation: Aube Nouvelle, Durfort Lacapelette
Feelings: Neil - D’Accord, Henk - Reserved, Di - Just do it!
This was a much better day than yesterday even though it was about the same kilometres walked. It was overcast, the scenery was far more pleasant, there were more woods and we went through a number of small villages as well as a hilltop town, Lauzerte, where we had lunch.
We set out later as we walked back through Montcuq to see it as we were too tired yesterday afternoon and it was too warm. We also picked up morning tea supplies. The 14th century Church of St Hilary has an unusual octagonal clock tower. When we walked up our first steep incline we had good views over Montcuq with the 12th century square 24m tower.
There were many steep ups and downs today which at times were challenging. There were a few more walkers than previous days and one group of eight friendly French walkers who are completing the walk in stages. We had morning tea with the group at a “pause stop” in an old barn at ten thirty. Once again it was by donation.
We are passing many different fruit orchards including fig and cherry trees. The fruit are not quite ripe yet. Some of the wheat is starting to turn yellow.
Following morning tea there were more steep ascents and steep descents. Before we reached our lunch destination of Lauzerte there were two very steep descents and this did not bode well knowing that we would have to climb up to the hilltop town. We were given a fright when a compressed bird scare cannon fired near us to frighten the birds off the newly planted fields. We nearly jumped out of our skin. We had good views of Lauzerte from the fields. The climb up to Lauzerte was steep and was over a distance of 600m.
Lauzerte is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and it is impressive with a beautiful square. It is known for being a centre for the arts and there were many installations throughout the village. One unusual art installation was of an upturned corner of the square’s pavement by the artist Jacques Buchholtz in 1987. And many shops and houses had other artistic work.
We spent about an hour at Lauzerte firstly looking around and then having lunch. We tried to get lunch in the square but one restaurant was only serving drinks and the other was a full sit-down menu. We walked down from the plaza to a lower section of the town and found a restaurant serving crepes. Neil and I were served very quickly with our savoury crepes but Henk, for some unknown reason, had to wait another twenty minutes. It was frustrating as we were keen to get underway for the afternoon.
We left Lauzerte at two o’clock with 10.5kms to walk. It had more surprisingly steep ascents and descents, many through woods which was good, and about 1.5kms of road walking which was not so good. We passed an old dovecote in good condition.
The rain which threatened all day held off and the sun came out in the last ten minutes before our arrival at our accommodation which is a magnificent old house with many rooms. There is no village and we are surrounded by acres of wheat fields.
Dinner was at the house with fellow walkers. We had a delicious three course dinner. The older, delightful, friendly Belgium couple manage the accommodation with style and grace.
In two days we have covered fifty-five kilometres. Tomorrow is a shorter distance of about 17kms and we look forward to seeing Moissac.
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