Seviac – Eauze 16kms

Saturday, September 24th

Another short day. Only 4 hours walking in a light constant drizzle, much of the time through forest land..…This section of the Le Puy walk has either short or long days. Our long days are ahead of us. On the route someone had changed one of the ubiquitous directional markers and a group of us took the wrong turn. No major problem, but an opportunity to take a good photo of pilgrims losing “The Way”.

We are staying at a gite communal ce soir. There are numerous sleeping options on the Chemin. “Gite communals” are communal sleeping accommodations owned by the local city...Usually four or five beds per room. Simple places with kitchen facilities. ( photo enclosed of our room in Eauze). They currently charge @ 10-12 Euros per bed… Private gites have similar configurations, but often also have private rooms and provide for demi-pension. Total cost @30-35 Euros per person. There are also small Hotels/Logis, sometimes chamber d’Hotes (B&B’s) and occasionally religious hostels. One can spend a little or spend more than a little, but never a lot. Most walkers stay in gites.

Eauze is touted as the capital of Armagnac. Sitting at a local café we were induced to partake of a small tasting. By happenstance (or some sign from St Jacques) the vintages of the three tasted were `1978, 1985 & 1988….the year of my first visit to France and the birth years of my daughters. And yes, they were delicious