A Nice Day for a Walk

Thursday September, 10 – Day 7

This gîte was very odd. I never did see the person I was supposed to pay. I dropped my money with a note with my name and room number into a box. I’m glad I got a stamp from the restaurant last night.

I woke up at 3 am and had to take some ibuprofen. I was aching pretty bad. Last night when I said I was going to Saint Côme-d’Olt today, everyone told me it was too far, and they were going the same distance in two days. I didn’t really know what to do. I ran into Monique and the two Francoises. I found out that’s why they call her Fon-Fon. They both have the same name, so one is Fon-Fon. I asked Monique if she thought I should go less, and she said yes. So I asked her if she would call the convent I’d made reservations at and see if she could change them from tonight to tomorrow. She called, but had to leave a message.

I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so I stopped to eat while they continued on. I was passed by the 3 ladies from the Farm in La Roche. They told me the next day after Saint Côme was booked because they were having a festival. I wasn’t planning on staying in that town anyway, but it’s good to know.

We were back in the trees for a bit today, which was nice. Then we were right back out of them. It is quite beautiful country. I stayed with Monique’s group for most of the day, waiting to see if the convent called back. It was a very frustrating day. Part of me wishes that I hadn’t listened to anyone and just went on to Saint Côme-d’Olt and my reservation at the convent. I really want to stay there. At the time I’m writing this, I still have no idea if they have room for me tomorrow or not. Since she had left a message, I didn’t want to continue on and get there and find out they’d cancelled it. So I had to stay with them and wait, and no one ever called back. And then I’d waited so long, it was too late and too far to continue on. So I learned some lessons today. It’s also hard to let go of things I don’t have control over.

Coming into Aubrac

Statue on the hill facing Aubrac

The Church in Aubrac

The two Francoises

The English Tower

Monique says this picture is much better

Beginning the long descent into the valley

The first view of St. Chelly d’Aubrac

On the bright side, the place I chose to stay at in St. Chely du Arbrac has wifi that works wonderfully well! So I can get caught up on the last 4 days of my blog. I just hope tomorrow works out how I’d like it to. Keep your fingers crossed.

I left the crew after lunch. It was a long, very long, downhill into St. Chely, and Monique had to go very slowly because of her feet. I decided to make the best of it and get to the hotel and get caught up.

I walked with Megan for a bit more. I think we’re staying in the same place. I thought I was getting a chambre d’hôte room, but I’m in the gîte. That means I might have a roommate again.

“Do what you would like to have done when you die.”

Dinner was quite good. Megan and I had a little table together, and we had a very organic conversation that morphed from one thing to another. Dinner was an option of a salad and quiche, or a legume soup. It was Megan’s bright idea to get one of each and swap halfway through. The soup was really just a vegetable broth with croutons and some cheese. Not at all the hearty vegetable soup I was picturing. The next course was a pate stuffed cabbage and macaroni and cheese/butter. I’ve discovered that not all pâté here is liver. It was basically meat stuffed cabbage. Then dessert was a choice of various things, but we both chose the chocolate mousse.

The good news is I saw Monique, and the Convent said yes! They have room for me, so it did all work out. I am very glad, because I would have been very disappointed.