And have reached a high point of 913 m, ascending 407m and descending 686 m
This morning after an early breakfast our taxi picked us up at just after eight and whisked us back to St Chely. After a quick visit to the boulangerie we set off. As usual to get out of town we had to go up hill, first crossing a delightful bridge "the pont d'Peleran" or the pilgrims bridge,
very shortly we entered a delightful beach wood of trees probably less than 100 years old. Very different from Burnham Beaches in the UK.
The wood ended and we were in very different terrain, unlike anything we have at home, with deep gorges and rolling hills. Across the deep valley we could see Salgue where we had spent last night, we then entered a wood of chestnut trees and begun a long decent which continued for many KM. At the bottom was a lovely stream where we stopped to paddle. Leaving the wood after a sharp up hill we were into open terrain again before a final steep decent into St Come d'Alt our goal for the night.
We had decided to have a short day and then stay at a local convent, where our Australian friends had stayed last night. As we were early we, arriving about 2pm we went into town to explore and get a drink, at the cafe we went to we bumped into the German family from Heidelburg again, we caught up on their news, reminisced about the Lake District and wished them well for their last couple of days
We then headed up the hill to the convent where we got the best room we have had so far, an opportunity to wash our clothes in a machine, and an excellent meal with red wine, and a vending machine for beer for 1€ a can.
As we were in a convent we asked about the daily offices and was told that vespers would take place in the Chapel at 6:15, so duly at 6:15 we went to the chapel, but where were the nuns?
Two ladies turned up to lead the office but one of those appeared to be part of the lay community who help with the hospitality. And it was all a bit sad rather than the uplifting experience we were expecting.
However, at evening meal time by chance we ended up with the other non French people staying overnight, two German speaking people, one from Switzerland - Johanis, who had walked all the way from his flat in Switzerland, clocking up nearly 1000 km already which makes out 100 miles look a bit paltry. The other was a very nice Austrian who lives Lichtenstein called Sandra, both have given up their jobs to make this trip which for was very humbling for us to hear when I have a sabbatical on full stipend to make this trip.
We ended the evening sitting in the convent grounds talking about life the universe and everything with Sandra and John Mark (a French chap who is also going all the way,) over a beer, which made a great end to an evening that started so poorly.
It was also great to meet and hear about other pilgrims who are on the trip for the long haul to Santiago and even on to Finistsre as well.
On the Camino in France
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