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!

Monday's can seem a bit like non-days in France, when everything is closed: patisserie, boulangrie, restaurant, etc, so I decided I won't bother tonight with anymore food. The repase at 3 was adequate for this day, on top of the large brunch  in Saint Ay. In the morning I must decide whether to catch the bus forward a little, so I could possibly reach Blois, and stay at the Auberge du Jeunesse, in two days. Perhaps reaching Tour by Wednesday is a little far fetched? Unless I walk, then catch a bus forward, but tomorrow, having just walked up to the Bridge in Meung sur- Loire, I don't really want to walk 2.8kms before actually another 6 to reach where I probably should've been today?  Beaugency would be the ideal start tomorrow. The lady at the Halte Jacquaire was helpful finding me this place, but it is just slightly too prior the ideal location for Tuesday. Why am I rushing to get to Tour? I've already been there in 2014. Perhaps I reach Amboise then skip from it t...

Word for the day: one of my favourite... a misapplied or inappropriate name or designation. L'Agylien scrambled eggs(Bain Marie) potatoes and salad were fit for a king(€7 Prix pour Pèlerin)!.After 3 hours I wanted to stopped for a little time in Saint Ay, as my left foot is a little tender this morning... Walking in Orléans didn't help and 15 kilometres in 3 hours is a killer. Following the right bank of La Loire. It's all good! But maybe I do stop early today as I've a place 5kms up the road La Ruche - €15. The humming of insects... It's something quite surreal. I had a similar experience walking from Geneva. The sound, collectively, added together can be quite overwhelming. France equals fecundity. Luckily I ate well this morning as Meung sur la Loire is closed to me except more awful 7jours pizza. So I'm heading back to La Ruche and a quick look into the Portuguese establishment. Quick beer in the Presse, Bar, Tabac, PMU. The first in these places where all y...

Up before the other two pilgrims, but thanks to the older man's alarm which went off early... Which is good. Sat down to breakfast and the black cherry jam which is not jam, actually confit: very nice but not sweet. Ideal for pork or another flesh, but a little too savoury for breakfast... But it's food! All food is gratefully received when you don't know what your are doing from one moment to the next? The way is before me again. I don't really like 'rest' days as they are fraught with potholes: beer, people, people, beer. It's all good! Back to Monday and the 'walking' week... Big cities bring on mauvaise santé mentale, especially after a long morning driving along the flat landscape in L'Eure - La Beauce   Second round of bread and 'jam' and this time it is confiture.. I am a lucky man. Four demi of Abbey Blonde yesterday and then a pile of beautiful Puy lentils. I am a simple man. Bon Courage...