A rebel without a clue.

At the end of a massive, continental, Camino day. It was so tough, but I got to the end in almost one piece. With, finally, two bits of reading material - only needed Cakes and Ale , by W. Somerset Maugham, but returned from the excellent bookshop with two Penguin Orange Backs: the second being Dandelion Days  by Henry Williamson - 1/6d each(€2) and both published in 1950(not first editions sadly). At the end of a frantic walk I do like to unwind into a novel or something uncorrupted by the media mafia conceits of current times: who talk nonsense to get people to chose sides as I walk down the narrow edge between them. Michel & Danielle, my hosts, have a wonderful 'studio' for pèlerin. I've finally got to 'caminoland' with today's very good repase  and this evening's reposé.  I am a lucky man, but perhaps after 35 Kms I earned it.

Extremely bug-ger-ed(tired beyond the word tired). Had to hitch after the last stretch along the Loire between Muides-sur-Loire and Saint Dyé-sur-Loire. Much better visually on the left bank: the right bank was long and straight along the top of the levee. The left bank had those last two leafy tumbling pathways. Unrinating on this side was much better! I wasn't staring at a nuclear power plant while irradiating out the copious water I'd drunk during repase.  Thirty five kilometres this day. Never with a spring in my step. Unlike from Orléans: La Ruche was just too remote. But I didn't catch a bus or train and the second car to pass me by stopped: a small Renault, with a guy off to play football after work: good man, auto-stop. No English spoken so we used Google Translate like a Babbelfish... Perhaps something like a universal translator is around the corner? Before I present myself for this evening with the family hosts I have come for an earned Petrus Red: th...

Fifteen minutes before noon and I couldn't walk another inch! But then I just found a formule du midi - repase - €13.80 for entrée, plat and dessert, vin and café inclusif! B'art Gourmet, Avaray! Phew - four and a half hours 22 kilometres! I am ionising opposite the reactors! And it's not mentioned in the Miam Miam Dodo...why am I carrying it? Toilet paper...

Tuesday is all about walking? My previous suggestion that I may catch the bus to Beaugency didn't amount to anything. A brief coffee and croissant at the boulangerie opposite La Ruche then another Longé at the Bar Tabac on the crossroads in Meung sur-Loire then I continued alongside the La Mauve de Saint Ay until I reached back on the Loire, mistaking it for a lake! Arriving a bit weary in Beaugency ready to stop, but as the breakfast options were none, I bought two apples(canada variety) and two large quiche aux legumes in the centre, before heading for another coffee and water to wash down penicillin. Setting off again around 9:30 it seems I am passing a Nuclear power station, on the left bank, before I too cross over to that side. Eaten the rations and hope they keep me moving two more hours? I would like to rest properly before I attempt Blois on these feet!