Shared Illusions

I was too tired after our 19 mile trek yesterday to think. At one point I declared that I was NOT going to walk 17 miles from Nîmes to Saint-Gilles, not realizing that I was already engaged in a 17 mile walk, that became 19 somehow and to Saint-Gilles will “only” be 15.

Maybe our host Thierry had something to do with it. He’s very appreciative of where he lives and all it has to offer within short distances. One of which we just had to see and it was a 7 minute walk from the house and he would take our backpacks to a meeting point in his car, join us on the walk, and then drive us to a Chemin starting point. It would only add 30 minutes to the day. HA!

Thierry offered to drive us two towns over to make up time, but we were committed to the walk. A boulangerie in Dions was not too far for sandwiches. However, no sandwiches on Sunday.

Hoof it to La Calmette where a Lidl would be open til noon thirty. Arrived at 12:28. Closed. It actually was not bad hiking without lunch. Thierry and Catherine had provided us with a more than ample breakfast. Thierry also loaded us down with a small jar of his fait maison confiture and a small bottle of his fait maison rhum arrangé, a digestif.

This long long lonely road went on and on and on. Quite a bit of gradual elevation gain. Thank goodness for some cloud cover and a breeze.

The thing about walking long distance with a pack is that after a period of discomfort when you wonder if you should call a cab, if only you could, so it’s good you can’t, things settle in, or on, more pertinently.

There was lots of impressive stonework along the way.

Last year we took a rest day after two days of walking. This year – 12! I’d say our training in the Sandias and Manzanitas was effective.We are here in Nîmes til the morning of the 28th when we walk to Saint-Gilles, our final day and end location of this Chemin. A few people though have suggested we walk to Arles. “C’est pas désagréable,” said one woman we met hiking in the opposite direction. I don’t know as that’s a ringing endorsement. On verra.

Two last photos, which reminds me. We saw about 5 wild boar running across that path in the photo above, followed by about 7 boar-lets. Very impressive! Those adult boars, however, had no adult in the rear to ensure the piglets were following.

Wild things…

Touristing in Nîmes today, but taking it slow.

May your days and nights be awash in wonder. Bisou.