2010, just where have the last 21 years gone?
When I was last in Scotland at a cousins birthday party I found myself in the kitchen with one side of the family who had apparently retreated there in the face of opposing forces, there is therein a joke as they are of Italian descent but in the name of family harmony I’m going to stop there.
A young woman I didn’t recognise utterly surprised me. Unlike my memory of her, time had moved on at its normal pace but my last recollection of her was sitting in a child’s seat wearing pink and playing with my little pony. Rationally I understand it but still getting my brain around it is another thing. Her mum still looks the same, I don’t “think” I’ve changed that much and I’m not usually so easily perplexed or baffled but for some reason in my mind she is still three and not 23.
Anyway my befuddlement aside, I arrived in Lozerte, recognising the town from the distance. I had wanted to stay here the last time around, but the Gite had been full and I had carried on to Moissac grumpy at climbing the hill and the Gite being full. I’ve booked the 31st and 1st nights at the Abbey but after arriving here I am much more interested in spending the nights in a warm, friendly Gite with Wifi!
My cycle today was for the most part straight forward, except where this silly cow did her best to knock me off my bike. Her hasty departure was a wise and fortuitous move saving her from a sore face and me from a stint in a French jail. Gallantry be dammed I say!
The weather closed in for a while and I though I was in for another tough day but then just as I discovered these guys there was a noticeable change in climate. I’ve no idea what the background to or meaning of a caterpillar chain gang is.
In the afternoon the weather just kept improving, it hadn’t been this warm since an unusual day earlier in Switzerland where it had registered 22degrees. The landscape changed again and I was just considering this when I was surround by fruit farms and vineyards.
Those of you with any interest in Fantasy novels will appreciate this picture.
I did start down the road to the town, but the road was rough and heavier going than the D19 which I decided to return too.
The welcome I received here was extraordinary, the couple who have been running a Gite for a while have just finished this place, which is just fantastic. Warm, friendly, Wifi, warm water, washing machines and great company and other Pilgrims!
Amounts the other pseudo “we are walking for the weekend brigade” Pilgrims was a young French man of note on his way back home to Leon after five months walking. It was good to meet another traveller who I didn’t need to explain anything too and we could just chill together without the exhausting overly energetic babble and enthusiasm of the weekender’s.
I asked if I could stay a few nights as its difficult finding accommodation over the New Year, Michel discussed it with the boss and they agreed. Not only did I stay but I was invited to dinner on New Years eve.
This is Michel and a rather fabulous bottle of wine, the grapes for which are picked every December 31st at 9pm.
Michel and I got on very well, he speaks a little English which together with my poor French was enough for just about every subject.
As you might imagine the food was rather good, this course was pasta with black truffle and stuffed chicken, the coating includes ginger bread and is just fabulous.
To the Gavan`s and Maxwell`s with whom I often spend my New Year, I hope you all behaved yourselves without me there to keep you out of trouble! I had thought to post some pictures of New Year 2000, “Five go mad on Islay” trip, but as Keith has only just finished counselling have decided against it.
Happy New Year.