Lascabanes

This is our last view of the Pont Valentré. We also say goodbye to the Lot River. The Lot continues west to its mouth where it joins the Garonne River. Our path takes us father south towards Spain.

I am near Labaside-Marnhac. I just had my first stop that felt like a Camino stop in Spain. A busy little café that doubles has the post office and the grocery store. A lively pretty shopkeeper who chats and makes wonderful coffees. The generous Pain aux raisins is wonderfully tasty. I feel restored.

And there’s my marker for the next stop on the path.

I had a great stop at a little café today. One of the features of the hospitality on the path is that the Gîte may not be open when you arrive. These are very small operations. The people running them might still be preparing for your evening stay or might be working at other jobs. You may arrive before they’re ready. Pilgrims are always looking for places where they can hang until their accommodations are ready. Sometimes a picnic table under a shady tree in the village square or a quiet space at the local church will serve. I found a perfect little café. A wonderful hostess made me a salad and served wonderful syrup water flavored with ginger. It was so lovely. As I was leaving, she invited me to select a little quote card from a tray she presented. It was a chapter from Isaiah that I found particularly inspiring.

On today’s posting, I have to get myself an incomplete. I haven’t taken a picture of the wonderful place where I’m staying (Au chemin de Traverse in LENDOU EN QUERCY) or recorded the wonderful food I ate, or summarized the great conversation I had with my host, Hans. He is a devout atheist, and a great admirer of enlightenment philosophers. As you can, imagine, we had a great time talking. I feel so blessed.

And thanks to my wonderful wife for taking care of the daily bumps of life back in Alexandria while I’m out here walking the path. Thank you so much, SUSAN.Baca lagi