|
Had breakfast
at 8. The weather was windy, cold and cloudy,
so we took our time packing.
We set off at 9:40 and quickly put on our
water (and wind) proofs. It was only about
10ºC. We had provided ourselves with half a
baguette and pains au chocolat/raisin.
The walking was easy and very pleasant. The
country is rolling with no big ascents or
descents. Lots of grassy fields and woods. A
surprising number of horses. We even met some
donkeys. Memorable parts were (1) where one
farmer was keen to keep the GR route away from
his farm house, so it went round a bog and
over broken styles. A was quite indignant. (2)
Just after this we met a dog - a terrier of
some sort who mysteriously appeared, followed
us for miles and then as mysteriously
disappeared again.
We had a snack on the shores of Lac Chauvet
and later had an enjoyable lunch of our porc
roti, baguette and pains. We met a couple of
young Frenchmen who were also on the walk but
they were a bit quicker than us. Mind you they
set off from Volvic the same day as us.
|
We found that
we were able to cover the flatter ground of
today at a faster rate than we had been doing
before. So we began to think that we might be
able to get to Super Lioran on Monday rather
than Tuesday.
Lac Chauvet is a peaceful spot. It is
difficult to imagine it as a volcanic crater.
|
|
We got into
Egliseneuve at 2 and at the second hotel got a
room with two beds. We rested and then
explored the town. Not a great deal to see. It
is small but very urban. Got supplies at the
bakers and butchers. |
I think that
there are at least three hotels in the town.
It is difficult to think why. Perhaps it is
the centre for the farmers of the area.
It looks as if there should be a factory
about, but I could not see one.
|
|
We found the
cheese museum - 40F to get in but tells a lot
about the rural life of the area. Samples at
the end with wine! Next door we bought some
Cantal to replace our odourous St Nectaire.
Back to the hotel, had a beer and lemonade,
read and at 7 phoned home - all well.
We ate at the hotel and A and I shared cote du
beouf on the bone! Plain but pretty good. Then
a short stroll and so to bed. |
This was at the time
when the British Government had recently
banned the sale of beef on the bone |
