Tuesday done.

The heavens have opened and we've a thunderstorm. Not since the second étape (stage) from Capestang did I see rain, but then it was overwhelmingly heavy, it continued until Carcassonne to a lesser degree. So nine days until this! I'm so glad I'm comfortable, dry, showered, clean and not dripping. Dinner isn't until seven tonight so there must be a break in this? Some things are just impossible to overcome, and must be accepted, out comes the rainware.

Two Chasseurs went out just prior to the storm to head up into the mountains to shoot their guns, perhaps they'll return soaked and gored by the stag they're after? The owner of the Chambre d'hôtes seems a bit suspicious of them, but I know hunting is a way of life in France: as long as they don't shoot the animal without any consideration to what will be done with the carcass? This village, Juzet-d'Izaut, has a charcuterie (du Cagire) along the road from here - the area is below the mountain Pic du Cagire - which specialises in "gamme", which I think is game?

The thunder rolls up the valley, and the rain it ceases temporarily, so I bob out to the Auberge for a beer to wait the evening meal.

For a couple of days I've been experiencing a friction like pain on my left thigh and it is getting a little more tender daily. When I finally had a thorough clean today I've examined the area and it looks more like a slight infection. Once I've asked a gentleman me thinks it may be a spider bite; the jury is out.