France at 3 MPH

Imagine yourself on this bench. You are looking over the Cele River. You don’t know yet what there is below, but it is a pretty sight. I have a trail guide and the trail is well marked. It is an ancient trail taking pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, one of many branches of the Camino. The French government owns and maintains the trail and calls it GR65.

I have walking companions from a previous trip. Although I walked GR65 last year, this year we are taking a Loop off the main trail, GR651. what surprises lay ahead?A forest of hanging moss. Walking miles between stone walls used for moving livestock. Miles of cornfields. Springs on a mountainside.

Stone herders hutsOld houses Spectacular villlagesDinner with trail friends A more intimate dinner with Christine and Jean-Phillipe at the Celezen Gite outside Espinac (fine dining it was! Tomato soup and beef ribs with shallots and potatoes, baked peaches and figs for dessert, almost entirely from their garden). Beautiful Churches Sandwiches for lunch- just great bread, butter, and ham. This one made by Fabian, the bartender. Troglodyte homes in a cliff. You have to work for these views. We went up and back down cliffs like that three times-and that was just today!

This is a Street in the village we are in tonight. What secrets does tomorrow hold?