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June Blog - July Blog
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My sincerest thanks"
01 Aug 2007 Day 24 - Exideuil
6:43 am Exideuil - Stayed at a place called the 'The Old Coach Stop' last night which is owned by Pamela and Paul Halford. The Old Coach Stop
11:45am - Going well this morning, curently walking down the D16 heading towards Cherves Chatelars.
15:32pm - I am heading towards Montbron where I will be resting up for the night. I understand accomodation has been arranged there for me at the Le Maison de Pere, don't know anything about the place so it will be interesting to see what it is like, I may get a surprise.
02 Aug 2007 Day 25 - Leaving Montbron
Last night I was kindly given accommodation at the Le Maison de Pere in Montbron (16), known as 'The House of Monks' it is run by Priests and Monks to look after Pilgrims going to Lourdes.
I have to go and see Myriam from the Tourist office, she is going to try and organise getting my luggage over to the next overnight stay to save me having to carry it all.
Thurs 10:30am - Saying thankyou and goodbye to Myriam, she is taking my luggage herself.
01:00pm - Going south past Marthon and it is very hot.
01:55pm - Heading South on the D16 between Marthon and Grassac.
02:45pm - I am passing Grassac with 16 km to go until I reach Villebois where I will stay overnight in accommodation that Paul has once again arranged for me with Monique Jacquet at Chambre d'Hote
05:07pm - Thanks Jim, I just recieved the text messages you sent from my CC friends, I have coverved 30km today but I am going to ease off a bit, home soon.
03 Aug 2007 Day 26 - Leaving Chambre d'Hote
11:40 am - Just about to leave Monique Jacquet of the Chambre d'Hote after spending a loveley time with all the people here, they have made me very welcome. I hope to cover around 25km today which should take me to the next arranged stopover to meet Barrie who is another friend of Paul's at Montmoreau-St-Cybard, 16190, Paul sure has got some nice friends.
Here is where I will be staying tonight La Breuille it looks a very nice place.
17:30pm - Well, it turned out a very interesting day today, I had some visitors here at L Breuille, 2 reporters from 2 French newspapers arrived together with Simone Petite from the tourist office. We had a pleasant chat and exchanged a few jokes, afterwards Barrie and Michael laid on some aperitifs and a good time was had by all. Later they have laid on a slap up meal for me. I managed to get some time to enjoy in the swimming pool.
04 Aug 2007 Day 27 - Fully Charged
Have had a very exciting break while I was here with Barrie Andrews and Michael Hall, they really looked after me and I would like to thank them for all their help.
12:00 - Having said my goodbyes to Barrie I am setting off down the D674 for about 20k until I get to Chalais en Charente where I am told I will meet Nadia who owns 'La Fagnard' on Rte de Blanzac, she has kindly offered to put me up for the night. Also, I have just learnt that Barrie is going to take my luggage over there so that I don't have to pull my trolley again, this really helps me.
08:00pm - Arrived at Nadia's, been another hot day and I am ready for a rest.
05 Aug 2007 Day 28 - La Roche Chalais
08:00am - Thankyou to Nadia and all your friends for making me welcome during the short time I was with you.
08:15am - Back on the road heading down the D674 once again heading for a campsite which is about 15km's away, only this time I have to carry my luggage myself, problem is it's 35 degrees so I will have to take my time.
12:21pm - Just had a surprise, a car pulled up alongside me with a lady driver in it. Now I speak very little French but it was quite easy to understand that she wanted me and my luggage to go in the car with her. Now this would normally make my alarm bells ring as it seemed like it could be a kidnapping, but knowing how much Paul is helping me travel without the luggage I knew I would be in safe hands. Luckily Paul rang me at the crucial time and spoke to Veronique, that is the lady in the car, and soon everything was sorted, my luggage was on it's way and I go on my way again.
01:30pm - Well, I have arrived La Roche Chalais, now I must look for the campsite, it is called La Eau Vive and I have been told to look for the signs and when I get there Veronique is going to feed me, oh dear, I am being spoilt.
phone call to David ..
Paul - " can you see Veronique" ..
David - " yes she has just arrived" ...
David - "can I pass you to Veronique as she is trying to get me to go in the car with the baggage"
Paul in French - "allo Veronique zis eez Paul zank you veree moch but Daveed cannot get in zee car viz you, E as to valk"
Veronique in French - "E as to valk !! but it eeze ah veree lung vay, eet most bee tventy Kilometers, ah shood tak eem een zee car"
Paul - " non veronique yoo mest leeve eem to valk ... zat ees vot ee ees doin .. jost tak eez bags pleeze"
Veronique - " ah now ah zee .. ee eez walkeen all zee vay ..ee eeze a veree brav man" ..
Paul - "eeze zer aneezink to eet ah zee compsaat, ah restauront or zumzing"
Veronique - "non .. bot do nat vorry ah vill feex eem zuming ven ee arruvs"
Paul "zank yoo Veroneek pliz puss me daveed"
Paul " OK David make sure you have got water and that you are wearing a hat ..the campsite is called La Eau Vive ... you will see signs when you get get there Veronique will feed you OK BYEEE"
Hang up ...
06 Aug 2007 Day 29 - Campsite La Eau Vive
I am preparing to leave the Campsite La Eau Vive, it is really a nice place stay, Veronique and Edwin looked after me very well and prepared me a very nice meal which was very much needed, she has a website at:- Campsite La Eau Vive
10:00am - Walking down the D21 past Le Fieu, this road is quite busy with traffic, one lorry past me and blew my hat off, at least it is a bit cooler but I understand heavy rain is forecast, have to keep my eye for shelter.
12:01pm - Sitting by a church in St Medard village. I have been asked to wait her until Lisette Gonin arrives, she is going to take my luggage from me and take it on to her place, Girondine in Castillon la Bataille 33350, where I will be staying tonight.
12:15pm - Lisette has just left me, she is a very nice person and has promised me a good meal when I arrive.
I arrived safely at my accomodation for tonight, smartened myself up and had a good meal to charge the batteries. Lisette is taking me out on a tour of a vineyard that one of her friends own, no doubt there will be a little wine tasting amongst other things.
07 Aug 2007 Day 30 - Along the D17
09:02am - Having thanked Lisette Gonin for letting me stay with her last night and for taking me on the tour of the vineyard, not going to say if I tried any wine while I was there, I setout down the D17 heading for Sauveterre-de-Guyenne where I will be staying tonight. The weather is cooler and it is not raining so it could be another comfortable walk.
09:16am - Wonder who that guy is on the left.
10:50am - Making good progress as I pass through Castillon la Bataille, 'the castle where a battle took place', still on the D17.
15:11pm - I have just arrived outside the hotel where I will be staying tonight, The Hotel de Guyenne, Route de Libourne, Sauveterre de Guyenne (33). Also just had some good news from Jim, he and Paul have managed to track down some friends of mine, Peter and Sandra Brown, I will be staying with them on Thursday night, may even make it a days rest so we can catch up on things, really looking forward to that.
08 Aug 2007 Day 31 - Heading for Marmande
08:30am - Another new day and more km's to walk. I had a chat with Jim on the phone last night which was good. I also had a conversation with Darce Jean via email which I really enjoyed, only wish I could have connected to chat with my phone, maybe in the future.
Today I hope to finish up just outside Marmande, it is a beatiful morning and I have 30km to cover so better be on my way.
09:00am - Walking down the D670, vineyards all around me, feeling good.
10:35am - Still on the D760 and passing a villiage called La Reole.
13:37pm - Will soon be in Marmande, see from the sign in the image on the left.
03:30pm - Arrived at the Leclerc hypermarket Marmande, having a cup of coffee, not sure whether this is where I will be meeting Peter and Sandra. I am looking out for them just in case.
17:00pm - I was wrong, it was Rod and Sarah that came to meet me, some other friends of mine. I will be chilling out with them tonight after covering 32km today.
09 Aug 2007 Day 32 - Heading for Tonniens
10:00am - saying goodbye to Rod, Sarah and Adrian on the right.
I have had a very relaxing evening and a lie in this morning. Yesterday I finished at Marmande, and later this morning I will be continuing on from there heading to Tonniens and then south over the river (Garrone).
From then on we head south for Lourdes.
I have a large Michelin map of France which has been in constant use and it is always a boost to reach the bottom of the page and move on to the next one. Well folks after today we will be on the last but one page. If the going is good I can do a page in 3 days, but everything has to be with me to do that, so at the most optimistic forecast I could arrive a week today (wednesday), plane home thursday. But there is still a long way to go and anything can happen.
Thanks for all the texts everyone (I have not been able to check emails) and also it will be great to see you if you are over here.
Thanks for the offers of a lift back but I hope you understand I will be flying back. I need that journey on the plane to fly over where I have walked so that I can complete the process mentally. My journey will be over when the plane touches down in England, and its been a hell of a journey.
So, a new day has arrived, and I must be ready, we have become a great team and I have to say thanks to you all, special thanks to Paul who has been working away daily organising baggage moving, finding places to stay and getting people more aware of my walk. I made the local papers the other day. Well, time to go for now, just one more week of walking.
David
10 Aug 2007 Day 33 - Buzet Sur Baise
I stayed with Peter and Sandra at there home in Buzet Sur Baise last night, look at the photo to see what a quiet place they live in, just the place for a peaceful break and to catch up from when we last saw each other.
Later today Peter will take me back to Tonniens from where I will continue my walk, not far to go now to reach my final destination.
11:00 am I have have thanked Peter and Sandra for looking after me last night and now I am on my way again heading for Mezin where tonight I will be staying with David and Liz Coleman, very kind of them to give me a bed for the night.
11 Aug 2007 Day 34 - Leaving Mezin
Sat 09:00 am - I had a very good overnight stay with David and Liz at there home, take a look for yourselt House On The Hill - Mezin, we had a good party as well, but I must say goodbye and thankyou as it is time to leave and continue my walk.
Sat 12:45 pm - I am just trying to find the right road out of the small town of Condom which we take me onto my next overnight stay at Valance sur Baise with Kieth and Cathy Swift.
Sat 08:00 pm - Have a good meal infront of me, I am going to relax and enjoy it.
12 Aug 2007 Day 35 - Almost there
Next couple of days are going to be interesting. Shortly I will be heading for La Parisienne where I will then be picked up and taken to my overnight stay with Dave Barney and Paula Latuske whose home is called 'Lamartine' at Caillavet 32190.
On the right is a picture of their swimming pool, I sure hope I am able to jump in and cool down after today's long walk.
I have learnt that Monday night I have to go and ride on a camel, sure hope it doesn't get the hump when it sees my straw hat.
13 Aug 2007 Day 36 - Castelnau Riviere Basse
Mon 09:30 am - On the left I am saying goodbye to David, Paula and Doris who made me very welcome during my overnight stay with them. I just wish I could have stayed longer and enjoyed that swimming pool.
My stopover tonight is with Paul and Sarah who own a camel farm called 'La Maison des Chameaux' in Castelnau Riviere Basse. You will just have to wait and see what happens when I try to take a ride on one.
Mon 14:30 pm - I have arrived at La Maison des Chameaux and the camels seem friendly enough, there is a queue of people waiting to have a ride on them, not sure when it will be my turn.
14 Aug 2007 Day 37 - The Camel Ride
Tues 08:33 am - Well, here goes, this is Josaphine the camel I shall be having a ride on shortly.
I finally got to ride on a camel, this is Josaphine and she seems quite frindly. I am pleased Sarah is holding her, don't know what I wold do if she decided to go for a run.
Tues 15:05 pm - Have arrived in Andrest, this will be my final overnight stopover, tomorrow I walk into Lourdes.
15 Aug 2007 Day 38 - The Last Leg
Wed 07:00 am - Last night David and Maureen Rust put me up for the night and I really thank them for that, it his the Bank Holiday and accomodation is almost impossible to find.
Shortly I will be setting off on the final leg of my journey to Lourdes, this will be a 19mile walk, wish me luck.
Wed 10:00 am - I have been walking for 3 hours and arrived in Tarbes (right), I have another 12.4 miles to get to Lourdes so I am going to take a break and have a cup of coffee.
I have seen the Pyranees and they look stunning, going to get some photos later.
Wed 12:00 Noon - 6.2 miles to reach Lourdes.
Wed 02:30 pm - I have made it to outskirts of Lourdes.
Wed 03:30 pm - Entering Lourdes ( right ).
16 Aug 2007 Day 39 - St Pierre
Thur 7:30 am - I am having my breakfast at the St Pierre Nations Community Centre here in Lourdes, it is known as the City of the Poor.
Thur 9:36 am - This is where it all happens (right), there are a lot of people in wheelchairs heading up to the main meeting places.
I am now heading for a McDonalds I spotted earlier.
Thur 17:00 pm - I am just making my way to the platform to catch the train to Toulouse and start my journey home.
17 Aug 2007 Day 40 - Coming Home
Fri 8:00 am - Saying goodbye to Olivier Christiane and Francois who looked after me here in Toulouse
Fri 10:00 am - At Toulouse Airport waiting to board my flight for the short trip to Birmingham Airport and the road journey home.
Fri 5:27 pm - I have arrived home and back with my family.
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