Chasing After Jess

Knowing we had a shorter day, we set out a bit later in the morning sunshine under clear blue skies. I was well-rested and even though the track had lots of hills today – it felt like it was truly effortless on my well-seasoned legs.

It was at this point that we recognised that we finally felt like we knew other people on the track. A lot of the busyness has died down, and now we would see the same people most days. As we passed each other or met up at snack breaks, it was good to see friendly faces and have a quick chat.

Our travels today took us on tar roads, farm tracks, and paths through fields, lush countryside, and beautiful small towns. There was still some mud in places, but this was easy to avoid.

Beautiful flowers were everywhere, and the sun shone giving us a great feeling for the start of our day. The wonderful weather made everything seem brighter and more colorful, and the sheer joy of hiking on these beautiful paths, and the peacefulness, was very special.

After 8 km of perfect hiking conditions, we stopped in the sleepy town of Saint-Antoine for a breakfast of fresh farm eggs and Rocamadour cheese. It was here that we ran into a large group of people that we had met along the way, all seeming to have the same idea about stopping for a snack here!

Towards midday, it was very hot with little shade on the way. We took the opportunity to explore some ruins and have a petit pause at a pilgrims rest stop along the way.

We arrived very early to the town, and therefore very early to the Gite. We stayed at Chambre d’hotes Ailleurs and would definitely recommend it. We loved staying here, and Chrystele and Jean-Clement Pommiers, and their little pug dog, had made us so feel so welcome. The Gite was very clean and comfortable, and it had an absolutely beautiful courtyard. We loved Chrystele so much that we told her if she is ever in Australia she must tell us and visit! You can book with her via WhatsApp / calling – her number is: +33 6 72 66 62 87

Thankfully – even though we were super early, we were welcomed in early at our Gîte, our lovely hostess having lived in Australia for a period spoke English. Luckily I had arrived just as she was arriving home from the store, and she welcomed me in early for a shower and to unwind. After a hot shower and tea in the courtyard, we retired to our private room with balcony overlooking the courtyard for an afternoon siesta.

We enjoyed our dinner at the local restaurant, having a steak with some lovely potatoes. The staff at this restaurant were also incredibly friendly, going out of their way to get steak for us even though it wasn’t on the menu that night!

Today marked 3 weeks on this amazing journey that has given us so much more than just kilometres walked. Surrounded by the beauty of nature and the kindness of fellow hikers, we feel truly blessed to be here, to have the health and strength to continue, and to experience the simple joys of life on this path. Each step brought a sense of peace and gratitude, reminding me of the importance of life itself, and appreciating every moment.

Thanks for following our journey,

Jess x