More good walking through what I presume is typical Provencal countryside - a real pleasure to walk through and only a few climbs. The distances quoted by Les Amis have been consistently inaccurate and always underestimated, today was no different. After yesterday's 31km we wanted a short day and the 15km given seemed reasonable. In fact it was 21km with an extra kilometre spent finding a place for Nellie. After being offered a place by a friendly bar owner, she finally ended up in the field of an equally friendly South African woman with a vast property (we couldn't find the first one). The accommodation for us was complicated by a less than helpful assistant at the maison paroisse which was listed as a source for pilgrims. We were just about to give up and camp next to Nellie when the priest himself finally came out and put things in order. In contrast, he could not have been more helpful and welcoming – “This is your home.” he told us. I write with the sound of the evening Mass rising up through the floorboards. We also had our first unpleasant encounter with a gendarme, while we were having a beer in the town centre. He stopped and demanded to know why we were there and how long we would be. He also insisted that we clean up after her, and when I told him that we always did, he demanded our contact details should be there any issues regarding her cleanliness. Our conversation/altercation was watched in silence by everyone else in the bar, but when he had gone they expressed their outrage and told us he was well known for being an arsehole.
Accommodation – maison paroisse - excellent facilties at no charge, but perseverance required.
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