The alarm went at the slightly more civilised time of 7:15 after a quick shower we headed for the breakfast room and our petit dejeuner, as we ate a leisurely breakfast we watched other pilgrims set out, some like us carrying their packs, while others left their bags for the bag carrying service to pick up (you must decide which are the true pilgrims).
At 9:30 after another detour to the boulangerie we started out straight up hill, today the countryside is very different with alpine pastures and deep gorges. The walking is fantastic with very little tarmac, after about half an hour we reached the lovely church of Rochegude before starting a very steep decent for about 1km into the town of Monistrol d'Allier on the banks of the River Allier.
From Monistrol the guide book rather ominously says it's uphill for the next 32 km and so the uphill started, slowly but surely foot by foot uphill for the rest of the day. It sound awful but intact was really great walking in fantastic scenery with great views, again at 12;30 the tide of human traffic ground to a halt for lunch and a friendly group we had met at the pilgrims meeting in Le Puy enquired if we had lunch or not as they settled down to their repast. We plodded on for another 45 minutes before we stopped for our own picnic.
After lunch the rain started (so much for a sunny September) and it drizzled all the way to Saugues were we arrived at about 3:30, we then found accommodation half board in a gite with our own room which is a bonus.
After a shower and laundry we headed for town and picked up lunch for the next two days in case everything is shut Sunday. We then grabbed a beer and bumped into a trio of Australians two who are traveling to St Jean de Pied Port.
Back then to the gite for supper and bed.
On the Camino in France
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