Ayguesvives to Saint-Paulet, 30.4 km
Last night was maybe the best stop yet: an historic building (the stone lintel above the door is dated 1752), lovely volunteer hosts, and tranquil setting. The motorway noise was blocked out by the thick stone walls, and the other side was farmland.
The morning walk was another 20 km of canal. It made for fast walking, and the engineering and surveying marvel it represents are incredible, but after 45 km and 9 hours of walking I was done marvelling! The path departed from the canal at Naurouze, which is the point where the canal either flows east or west. Part of the design challenge for the canal was finding a water source to feed the flow at this mid point, so for the next couple of days the path follows the feeder channel which winds its way from the lakes in the hills to provide the water to make it all work.
Tonight I’m staying in another little gîte that caters for pilgrims, but this one is private. I’m with 3 other French folks in a small cabin on the hosts property, but dinner was in their house. We were served cassoulet, a traditional dish from this region, made properly in an earthenware casserole. The sort of meal that an army could march on. Delicious! The host works at the local ‘castle’ and a a result has the key to the church. After 39 km, I didn’t feel like hiking up the hill to see it, but the key was impressive!
2saunter 