Day 38 - Casteide Candau - Argagnon - 8 June

Time Departed: 8.15am

Time Arrived: 1.20pm

Distance: 22 kms (18kms walking + 4kms driven)

Cumulative Distance: 663kms

Percentage Completed: 86% (1,078,500 steps)

Weather: Warm and sunny 

Accommodation: Chambres D’Hote Arret et Aller 

Feelings: Neil - Feliz, Henk - Bueno,  Di - Happy

Our French host, Giles, drove the five of us to Pomps to recommence the walk and this reduced the planned walking distance by four kilometres. This time it was Neil’s turn to sit in the back of the van with the backpacks and hang on as we twisted around the country roads. We took the walk slowly as the distance was significantly shorter than yesterday. The countryside has changed quickly during the past three days. It has become more hilly with vast expanses of lush green pastures and there are, once again, a lot of animals including cows, horses and donkeys. 

As the day was clear we had very good views of The Pyrenees in the distance for most of the day. 

At the small village of Castillon whilst taking a photo of a traditional provincial house Tom popped his head around the corner. It was great to see him again and we continued walking together for the remainder of the day. He had news of fellow walkers we had met and he had come across. 

We walked nine kilometres to a cafe at the small town of Arthez de Bearn arriving at eleven o’clock. Shortly after English Charlotte and Kevin arrived so we had a good old chinwag. We bought lunch at the boulangerie and carried it with us to our night’s accommodation. 

The remaining nine kilometres had good views over the countryside. We are now passing many more rustic barns again and they are hard to resist photographing.

We entered the region of Béarn (home of the Bearnaise Sauce) and arrived at our Chambres D’Hote early and, not surprisingly, the rooms weren’t ready. We didn’t mind as we had our lunch to eat and we joined the two Canadian women, Penny and Penny, on the terrace. They had arrived an hour and a half before us. The accommodation is two kilometres before the village of Maslacq and sits amongst farmland. It was originally built in 1712 and is typical of the area with the long top verandah. The large house is owned and renovated by Andrew who originates from Cornwall. This is the first time that we have had an English host since our walk began over five weeks ago. 

There is a menagerie of animals including turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens and an enormous pig named after the actress, Raquel Welsh. Raquel, a Vietnamese Pot-Belly Pig, which is five years old sleeps in the dining room at night in her own large basket covered in a blanket. During the afternoon I fed her juice from a water bottle. She is a thoroughly loved and spoilt pig!

For the first time since our walk started five weeks ago the weather was suitable to eat outdoors. It was a very pleasant evening with Andrew and the two Pennys from Canada.