A rebel without a clue.

Je suis arrivé à Orléans. And it's electioneering. I couldn't communicate that I had already arrived outside the Halte Jacquaire. So now I have meandered down to the Loire... Could be worse... Sunday afternoon from Chartres to Orléans in a smooth hour, but I talked my head off to the driver: I've not seen a soul in ages, especially to sit next to, so all I did was talk. She must've been traumatized! It might've been worse though as I might've said nothing at all... Place de la Loire and a Biére d'Abbaye Floreffe in La Concurrence... It could be worse. You know when being a bit tired suddenly hits you? Well it's done it again. I must repeat - yesterday was such a long day, without a proper feed. What will become of me today... I must get a proper feed! *** The hostess thought there was two British Pilgrims. I was surprised because I've never met another. And it turns out she was waiting for me... I guess that comes from not mentioning that I am Britis...

Because there was no chance of a coach/bus until 1800 this evening from Chartres to Orléans I decided better to get a lift with BlaBlaCar from 11am to get me there around noon. I've written to the representative of the local Amis Saint Jacques in Orléans, Compostelle 45, to see if I can stay on Sunday night in the Halte Jacquaire before I set off again Monday through to Saturday when I must head for Limoges and one nights accommodation there, before returning to the UK. The Presidential Election here in France, from the 10th, has put me off walking that week from the 11th and it's Palm Sunday on the 10th so it would be a sensible time to return for Easter Week to the UK - and dog sitting duties afterwards.  The price of flights after the 10th skyrockets because that is during the main week/2 weeks of schools Easter holidays which suggests it is sensible not to be caught paying €150 for a €12.99 flight... 10 days on The Way is better for my mental health than zero days. *** Yest...

Yermenonville: perfect to stop around a quarter past nine for an elevensies- scrambled eggs, butter and bread, and another coffee (€5.50) before the next 3rd of the way today. At around 30 kilometres at around 20 I will stop for repase  near L'Eure. Then it's down the valley towards Chartres, again. Last time was around 8 years ago when I had more hair and more weight, but less sanity. I've connected with the same fellow in Mainvilliers from then. Perhaps I stop in Chartres this evening and further discuss the beer festivals around Chartres and Sours? Every dog paw print reminds me of her. Oh well, looks like my plan of stopping around 20 Kms was premature as there was zero revitallement  in the village next to L'Eure.  So I continue another 7 kilometres? At least I ate well last night, at breakfast and had the egg, bread and butter in Yermenonville. Now I walk gingerly by the side of the railway tracks to see if anything is up ahead? Last turn and there is ...

Waiting calmly in a hidden corner of the quieter area at Leeds Bradford: there used to be a pray room here but they got rid of it to provide more space for a bar... A chance to charge this phone up. Lemon and hot water to drink. Flapjack and nuts for the brief flight to Beauvais and the 50 mile coach journey to Porte Maillot. So far no alcohol. I am in the other mode of existence... Where I Wii be seated on 21B, between folks, wishing the trip was over. A short hop. Much better than 3+ hours of Ryanair ranting and raving. My usual complaints around this time... But it doesn't matter. We're all on a journey somewhere, we're all experiencing life a little different from each other? There are a dozen Imams departing too so for them the experience might be different/difficult. The last time that there was a pray room here in Leeds Ruby Wax joined me for a moment's meditation: she's the infuriating individual who definitely sped me on my way to hopelessness... She always...

Feelings of guilt. One too many beers effected my good effort yesterday. Something, like the promise of happiness, took me for not one or two, but three glasses of Kwak. True I had walked 3 and a half hours without stopping for anything other than water, and so I was 'starving' as, in the snow, I trudged up from the Gare in Epernon to the center ville. After a late lunch - around 3pm I continued, with those 3 beers causing trouble, to the Priory of Saint Thomas and was presented with a bill for the evening of €40. And I just couldn't afford it after the prescription, food and beer had cost €50. So I said I'd have to go without food €15... The Soeur I was paying, who had a mask on, said it was OK and I could still eat that evening. I went and laid down and slept until 6pm: I really had had a long day, including 2 hours in the Hospital waiting room, and now I have penicillin... Life is complicated by not moving and being in just one place - due to COVID - surrounded me in...

The start of day three and I spy snow cover around. After many visits to the toilet - drank too much water during repase - I slept very well. I was a little cold in the room initially, but put the heating on a notch - sorry folks - and slept diagonal on a slightly shorter bed - being a bit too long is hindered by an end to the bed. What did humanity do prior to coffee, tea and hospitals... Life must've been so much a limiting factor in decrepitude and uncaffeinated? The road is pitted and stoney with precipices on either side; we must negotiate the pitfalls and sheer drops. The finger is bad this morning. Perhaps the last night's good sleep was last one, if I don't get the health service to see me?... The snow is not deep and I am ready. *** Quickly I am in Urgences at Centre Hospitalier de Rambouillet, thank you to French national health service and Marie-Thérèse for getting me here. The Accueil was very welcoming, perhaps because I am English and a pilgrim, who you rarely...

So I am starting to suffer with the infection in my right index finger. Most of the day I hadn't paid it much attention, but now, as I have time to reposé,  after a longish day - 27 kilometres - and after a warm soapy shower there is more pain. Tomorrow I probably should go to Urgencies at the Hospital in Chartres and await my turn to get a prescription... The family I am staying with, retirees, have never taken in a pilgrim, but they usually have refugees and asylum seekers for up to a month at a time. Lovely cup of tea and noisette  sablés and I can hear them chopping vegetables. It's been some time - years - since I last got welcomed by a family and I am very grateful. Tomorrow I should walk from here to rejoin the way in Rambouillet to decide what I should do about the infection: there is a hospital in Chartres and perhaps I must go there and have a day off on Saturday? Two nights in Chartres... Or stick to the original plan and see what can be done in Orléans? *** My host...