Today is another day and yesterday’s frustrations are behind me. No big rush to get away so a leisurely pack after breakfast and off I went. Just along from the hotel came across this trompe l’oeil.

Crossed the river and started walking at 9 o’clock. Last year my walk was mostly on the flat, this year’s started uphill and continued thus all day.

I soon met a group of very nice French walkers who are doing one week on this walk and we are staying at the same gîte tonight.

One thing is certain that in the first four hours I walked more uphill than in the whole of my walk last year! On the plus side there is much less road walking and some of the forest sections have been idyllic. And the waymarking is very good, apart from the one that all five of us missed which cost us about half an hour.

The scenery has been delightful with many buildings in the vernacular style using the local volcanic rock.

Eventually I was very glad to see Monastier ahead

and to get to the gîte where I found a notice with details of where I am sleeping, so found the room, had a shower, washed some clothes and had a nap.

When I woke up I had a wall round the town and found the Abbey which has some nice stained glass

but it was very hot so I went back to take advantage of the WiFi.

5 September 2014