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Walking from Esperyac To Conques, France

Our last day of walking the pilgrim path was into Conques. Glorious weather and countryside with cows. There was a farmer and his black and white herding  dog miving a small herd of about 20 water buffalo, with calves, along the lower valley. These produce the fabulous mozzarella cheese.

This is a walk through hamlets enclosed in old fortresses, with stops for espresso and greeting the older locals with Bonjour! Finally we saw the sign, 30 minutes to Conques. Susana said, sí, de puede! Which means yes, we can, in Spanish. Although the sign was a bit deceptive in that the last 30 minutes was a at least 50 minutes down a very steep hill on a rocky path. But she knew she could do it! 
Conques, which in French means the pilgrim shell, appears suddenly along a hillside. Streets are the original cobblestone from medieval times. And the buildings are straight out of a fairy tale. Like all streets and villages we have walked through, all is immaculate. Tourists and tourist buses pour in, filling the small village with people and offering a market for the arts and crafts of the region. We check into the Abbey St. Foy, built to house pilgrims over a thousand years ago, and it serves the same purpose today as it has through the ages.
We showered, washed our hiking clothes by hand, and explored the town a bit.

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Walking across France on the El Camino.

If I had to pick a town to spend several months in, it would be Lauzerete. Perched on a hilltop overlooking beautiful countryside, with many artists and charming Medieval buildings and. Town square with small sidewalk cafes. So very inviting!

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Walking most all day in France.

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Walking the Via Podiensis pilgrimage in France.

It is hot and humid during the day with pleasant evenings for outside dining. Fabulous food!

Having fun re-living my adventure walking on France.

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Crossed the Rhone River, France

Warm memories of warm walking up to the Massif mountain region on the pilgrim path across France to Spain. Compiling my sketchbook diary.


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Walking across France on the pilgrim path

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Easy walk to Aire -sur l’Adour, 15 fairly flat miles

It would be fun to walk this pilgrim path again and stay here. But it is too early in the day to stop this time. So lovely walking through the vineyards.
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Walk to Lectoure, France, 15 miles

Lectoure is a medieval hilltop town, built for defense.
Charming and beautiful and well preserved. The trail rolls through the cornfields, vineyards, sunflower fields. It was good and hot and humid today. The gite is for pilgrims only and opened at three pm, so I took it easy on the steep uphill into town. My dormitory room had big windows with great views. A former nursing home,   Now a wonderful welcome to hot, tired pilgrims.
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Walking to Lascabanes, 14 miles.

The chicken was a regional dish and was the only time I have had it. Really good grub and we sat looking out over the meadow in front of the home.
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Walking to Figac, France, 17 miles.