A look back at Saint-Chélay du Aubrac. What a quaint little village.
This was my first mistake and it was first thing this morning. I made a left-hand turn and if you look closely, there is a trail marker at the near bottom on the right. I just missed it. I climbed completely up this steep mountain, only to decide something was wrong and walk all the way down. I didn't use any unlady- like language but I sure thought it. It cost me a very difficult mile and a half.
Breath-taking views all day long.
It was cloudy all day. IF I had only ten miles to go, I would probably beat the rain. The last 5 miles of a 15.1 miles day--it sprinkled enough that I had to get my rain gear out.
These are the famous Aubrac cows--pretty good looking for a cow. There are photos in every town showing them in parades, festivals, and even races. They decorate the cows with all manner of ribbons and vests and other jeweled ornaments.
This one was almost pure white and even had white horns. I kept trying to get it to turn around so I could see if it was an albino but when I spoke to it, it gave me a giant mooooooo.
Okay, I was really taking the photo of the dog but in hindsight (no pun intended), the legs were pretty spectacular. I was first thinking, was the dog preventing him from hiking forward? But then I decided that he was training the dog. In any event, I was glad that the trail turned right before them.
Sore knees and all, I had to either crawl under this or do the limbo. I think I am past the limbo stage in my life so I crawled under, scraping my pack on the trees.
So if you look really carefully, you will see a man's pair of bikini underwear, almost in the center. Wonder if a good time was had by all? Usually, if underwear is this high up a tree, somebody had a story to tell. Not that I know personally. :)
These make me feel like Easter is just around the corner.
Speaking of beefcake!
Magnificent!
I think these are pink magnolias. It seems like on April 1, everything began to bloom here.
Don't you just love this little house?
Notice the crooked steeple....looks like a witches hat. I thought I was hiking to this town called Saint Cōme d'Olf but no. I was at around 11 miles only to learn that I had almost five miles to go. If my feet think I am going to have a ten-mile day which was what my guide said, then they are not happy for each step afterward.
This is the River Le Lot.
I was really tired when I finally reached Espalion. And I was hungry. I went into a restaurant for a diet coke which they didn't have but the server told me that Colt Cola was sugar-free. It wasn't bad. I saw a sign that said Quiche so I ordered the lunch special. Even though it was about 2:15 or so I was able to order it. Most of the restaurants quit serving food by 2:00 and the place was empty. OMGosh! This was the best quiche I have ever had. It had a crust rivaling my grandmother's, clearly homemade and was loaded with young asparagus and mild cheese, seasoned with turmeric. Initially, I was going to just eat part of it and pack the rest tomorrow. I ate every bite. And the salad was fresh out of the garden. I am not sure if you only go to Paris or one of the large cities, you get the amazing food I have had on this journey. Often times, you get the Disney Rain Forest (tourist) version of their food.
I found my hotel after asking several very helpful locals, collapsed on the bed for about 5 minutes and decided to walk down to the church.
The amazing Saint John Church made of pink sandstone. The most ornate church that I have seen in France.
The main altar.
A more close-up of the windows. My photos do not do it justice--they were the most vibrant colors.
The biggest rose window that I have ever seen. There were two more normal sized rose windows.
There must have been 16-20 of these lovely side windows.
Windows in a small chapel.
So I still have dinner left. I know that Jo won't be joining me because she was also excited by a 10-mile day. She probably really had one because her hotel was in Saint Cōme d Olf, 5 miles away.
So until tomorrow...Bonne Niut!
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