Lauzerte to Moissac

Good morning/afternoon!  

I started in the mountain top village of Lauzerte after spending the night a little out of town in my Cabana.  The owner was ever so nice and appeared to be a single father raising a boy of about 9 and a girl of about 7. He not only ran the hotel but cooked me dinner last night.  Both children wished me a good journey in English which just made my day. 

This Church is dedicated to Saint Bartomeu. 

When I entered the church there was a woman playing the organ.  If you look very closely you can see her. How beautiful to hear this old organ music reverberate throughout the sanctuary--an unexpected treat.  

A small rounded window near the altar.

The everpresent Rose Window in a much more modern design.

A rather comical St James.

This town square is a bastide.

This little trick of design both delighted me and intrigued me.

An art collective.  Too bad it wasn't open when I passed through the town.  Of course, with a backpack, I was pretty limited.  Not like I could pack this tree. Now like all of us girls, if Dennis had been here I might have considered it and expected him to tote it for me.  Just kidding Dennis.

I thought this residence in Lauzerte was particularly pretty.  It was the only one I saw with a garage.

There was a special exit out of town for pélerins...through a beautiful flower-lined path. 

A middle school.  Very modern!

Looking back at Lauzerte

I am traveling through farmland.  I saw many crops and many fruit trees--apple, peach, pear, and cherry.  The blooms were heavenly to walk by.  I am sure that if there had been ripe peaches on the trees I would have been much later than the 4:30 when I arrived.  I probably would have laid under the trees and stuffed myself with peaches. 

The odd duck.

A rather odd scarecrow.  I walked by him when I missed my trail off to the right.   I walked about a half mile in the wrong direction but lucky for me a man was standing in his back yard, smoking a cigarette.  He waggled his finger at me letting me know I was off the path.  Thank Goodness.  He didn't speak English but he was able to convey how I got back on the trail.  Such wonderful people out here in the country.

I rarely have had such a rough day.  It was supposed to be 15 miles and it turned out to be 18.6 tough miles.  This area of France is very mountainous and there is no flat space between the mountains. They go down in a "v" and then head straight back up. Exhausting and very hard on the legs.

I loved that he posed for me.  What a ham!

Beautiful peonies.

Much more interesting storage buildings than the ones in the U. S.

Even prettier peonies.

Coming into Moissac.  By this time I really needed to find a potty.  No luck.  I kept walking and walking with nowhere to stop. I was seriously starting to eye the bushes in front of peoples houses, wishing I was a man.  Finally, I spotted a bar and I flew in, practically knocking the bartender down.  Thank goodness it was a woman (a very cute woman) who clearly understood the necessity.She was laughing when I came out and low and behold they even had Coca-Cola Zero.  I have never had such a wonderful diet coke and a feeling of relief.  Ahhhh--the little pleasures in life.

So many beautiful flowers in bloom.  As I was walking (and walking) today, I met a very nice man from Paris who is taking 8 months to see the world.  I think he was about 30.  He waved to a family of  Mom and Dad and teenage boy and girl of about 10.  He told me that every day the four of them walk and when they are finished, Dad walks/hitchhikes back to where they started and picks up the car.  That sounds really exhausting.  They must not have known about transport companies like Camino Ways. .Once I saw the young traveling man and the family, I never saw anyone for the rest of the day.  It is reassuring to know you have people behind you in case you sprain an ankle.

So I leave you today and will type you again tomorrow.

Sleep tight!