Bias

Just to give you some context, I'm writing this while sheltering from a downpour, pressed against a wall of a church in a town called Bias.

So, I think I'm half way through my journey. I passed a "1,000KM to go" sign today. I had a very rough idea that the whole thing is 2,000KM and I know I have less than 100 miles left in France so halfway feels about right.

The campsite I stayed in last night was a four star one and had a bar so I took advantage and had a few beers with a pizza. The barman drove to get my pizza because the chef didn't turn up. It was stone cold when it arrived but I thought that it was really good of him to do that. The effect of the whole night was that I slept a lot longer than planned so my whole day has had a lazy feel about it. I sat down in Mimizan (where Coco Chanel used to holiday) and had pain aux raisins with orange juice for breakfast whereas it would normally be a banana with what's left of yesterday's baguette whilst walking. Maybe I'm celebrating the half way mark with a chilled day.

I was let down by tonight's campsite so I'm going to wild camp in the forest. It's going to rain but at least that means I can please myself how far I walk the rest of the day.

Photos - 1,000KM to go, the Templar church of St Paul en Born, the beautiful lake at Aureilhan, the UNESCO world heritage bell tower in Mimizan (this has links with the pilgrimage route I'm following but I don't know why), the church in Bias that I'm pressed against (photo taken before the rain).Read more