Chasing After Jess

Today was COLD! We set out in freezing conditions at 2°C and the valley was cloaked in a thick fog.

Unfortunately, the path was in poor condition due to the weather, forcing us to take a detour to avoid the worst of it. The descent into Monistrol-d’Allier was rocky and slippery, where we even had to navigate a flooded path turned river crossing.

Our spirits were soon tested by a seemingly endless uphill climb that pushed us to our limits, but thankfully we knew this was the steepest ascent of the whole route. Of course the sun came out during this incline, and I had to remove basically all 5 layers!

I could tell my mum was struggling with the incline, also facing jet lag coming all the way from Australia, so for a while I even carried her pack on the front which looking back I cannot believe I managed.

Luckily the view at the top was amazing!

Luckily what goes up must come down, and we hobbled into Saugues after 8 hours on the trail with tremendous relief and accomplishment. The cozy Gîte, La Dentelle du Camino, welcomed us with open arms in a private room with bathroom, offering a much-needed respite from the day’s trial. The shared dinner with our fellow pilgrims was a simple and heartwarming, with potatoes, cheese, and a variety of meats.

Thankfully, we had another early night. Tucked into a comfy bed in multiple layers. Ready to wake up the next morning and somehow do it all again!

Jess x