05/25/07 LECTOURE #2

The room in Auvillar was wonderful and there was also a French-Canadian there. We each used the shower and washed clothes. We were staying demi-pension which means that we got dinner and breakfast. When we went down for dinner the Canadian recognized someone and the three of us ate together. The other guy, Axel, spoke French but also English so most of the conversation was in English which was nice of them as it made it possible for me to understand. They both had started in Le Puy and they were full of horror stories of how hard that walk was and how easy the walk along the canal was. It was very amusing and they gave me a lot of information. One thing I had already learned was that one wants to take LOTS of water with them. There is no guarentee (remember what I said about no spell checker!) that there was a little store in a village or whether the store would be open. The dinner was wonderful. We sat out on a patio with a tree shading us and the food was great. I went to bed and actually slept a little bit better as I was slowly beginning to get onto French time. Got up the next morning, had breakfast and then after packing, this is where I realized that the pillow was no longer with me, I hit the road. Benoit (I think that is how one would spell it) was already on the road well before me. It was 9:30 by the time I started and as it got warmer I promised myself that I would not do that again. Very nice up and down walk which ended up at Miradoux. Again it is up on a hill. While walking around town I ran into the guys from the night before and Axel, 56 year old chain smoker from Norway, was staying at the same little place I was staying at. We had another fat/proten filled meal and into bed. Breakfast was waiting for us at 6:30, we ate and the Axel and I headed off for Lectoure. Lectoure is up on another hill, and a steep one at that. I am staying with an older woman who rents out a room and from the smell of it is going to provide me with a great meal. She has 9 grandchildren. Axel went his own way and is sleeping somewhere else.
Anyway, the only thing I miss is the hat. The pillow would have been nice, but it took up a lot of room int he back pack. Anyway, last night when we were eating there was a French guy at our table and I mentioned that the hat I had bought was a piece of junk. He immeditely offered me a hat which was an extra one that he had carried with him. He is about done for this part of his journey and must work for the summer before he can come back and do the rest of the route. Anyway, he wanted to give it to me and although I though it was not all that good I took it and wore it today. AND, it is a wonderful hat especially in the rain today. Fortunately I saw him in town about an hour ago and was able to really thank him properly. So, I am back with a good hat. I will try to put a picture on next time I find an internet connection.