Condom – Seviac - 19kms

Friday, September 23rd




Our supposed short day had us arriving at our farm gite just outside of Montreal du Gers at 3pm. The cause was leaving at the unpilgrim like hour of 10am. Most walkers start their day by 8am at the latest. Despite our late start we caught up with everyone. It seems the French remain genetically predisposed to stop for their “picnick” lunch, bless their Gaulic hearts. Les and I just plod along.

Today was a good day to plod. With my very sore toes properly wrapped, we walked through pretty farmland, interspersed with the first signs of vineyards – grapes to make Armagnac. It was quite warm and is expected to reach 90 degrees in the next few days. We arrived quite tired…

Our gite, the Ferme du Soleil, welcomed 14 walkers, all of them French speaking and of a certain age. Most are headed all the way to St Jean and a few to Santiago de Compostela. The gite is very near the site of an excavated Roman Villa that still retains moissac tiled floors. Worth the visit. The gite is also the same place my brother stayed many years ago – and I so told the Madam owner.

Dinner that evening was a grand affair and lots of fun. Fortunately a couple of the walkers spoke good English, and after sharing more than a few bottles of local Rose I was virtually fluent in French. It was the kind of evening that makes the Camino memorable.