Decazeville to Figeac

It was nice not to start in the rain.  It was a long day of 17 mountain miles.  Ever so different from 17 flat or city miles. I started with severe uphill which wasn't a bad thing (not a good thing either) because I was cold and this warmed me up pretty quick.

Look at this beautiful bush on the way out of town.  I pulled one of the blossoms over to see if it smelled good but I checked carefully to make sure there were no bees in the flowers.  It did not smell as good as it looked.

Isn't this a cute hiker.  Someone left a scarf on him to give him a dash of the sophistication that the French know so well.

This might be the first time I have seen a statue in living color.

This morning when I left, I was in a total fog.  I don't mean me personally, for those who know me well.  The fog was so thick that I could have stirred it with a spoon. I couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of me.

The fog burned off pretty fast to reveal these beautiful scenes.

Look at the beautiful mountain top with the clouds surrounding it.

I then had wonderful views of some hilltop villages.

I stopped and ate lunch here...my leftover half pizza from last night.  It was an early lunch because breakfast was one croissant...a good one but no protein.  I am long out of cheese and hope to find some soon. The little statue in the front is all that is left of the original cross marker.

I had no idea that the crosses were markers for the olden time pilgrims or pélerins as the French say. It seems obvious now that I read this.  I have seen many, many crosses here in France and often times at intersections.  I am not sure it is that way in Spain.

Another Medieval mountain top village across a large valley.

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They look like sharpened pencils to me.  My grandfather used to sharpen my school pencils with his pocket knife and this was a bit of a walk down memory lane.  I am sure these are fence posts but it is not what it looks like to me.

I tried to take a photo of my self in a mirror but it was covered in water drops.  Looks like a modern painting of some sort.   

I came across this church about mid-way. 

I loved the vibrant colors of the tiny rose window.

The altar was almost all Ivory.

I have to admit, these unusual stained glass windows are among my favorites.  They were above the exit door. I turned around to leave and these were such a surprise...a good surprise and so unusual.

More views.

Now, this is a proper hayloft.  It made me think of all those farmer's daughter stories (and terrible jokes).

Isn't he a cutie.  Some guard dog.  He barked aplenty but never got up on his feet so I felt safe. Lazy bum.

A man made-lake that people were fishing in.  I never saw anyone catch anything but I didn't stick around to see.  I had too many miles to go.

A little later, I came across this beautiful view of the Lot River.  It was so calm that I caught the reflection of the shore across from me.

A field of flowers.  If they had been poppies, I would have laid down and gone to sleep.  I was certainly tired enough by this time.  'Course my chances of the Tinman coming along to save me were slim. Did you ever think of the characters from the Wizard of Oz as nationalities?  The Lion would be Brittish, the Tinman would be French and the Scarecrow would be Spanish.  Of course Dorothy would be American and well, Toto was just Toto.

I could have taken hundreds of photos!

Look at these little babies.  They were so cute and curious, not skittish at all.  This whole pasture was filled with babies.

Fairyland!

So I limped into my hotel and flopped on the couch as the receptionist brought me a Coca-cola zero with ice. It was just short of heaven. I looked out the window and it was pouring rain.  Blessings that I made it to the hotel before it started.  I am still limping with my knee but it is better.  Now I have a blister on my little toe.  Ah--the trials and tribulations of distance hiking.  I have neosporened it to death!

I had a wonderful times 10 dinner but I took some photos so you will have to hear about it tomorrow since my photos won't download for some reason.  

Tomorrow is a very long day 19.5 miles so I am getting up a tiny bit earlier and will not be in until late.  Have a great night!  Until tomorrow...prayers.