Arrive in Nagaro

We have farewelled our friend David and head further SW. Less sunflowers now and extensive plantings of grape vines. The Pyrenees were sighted yesterday, but overcast and raining at times today. On the next clear day they should be quite impressive. A sample of recent photos.......

 1. David with us at our gite for tea in Condom

 2. A great old bridge

 3. A disused railway line which made a very arduous 7 Km. walk into Eauze

 4. First bullrings - Manciet and Nagaro

 5. Arriving in Nagaro

" Condatomagus "

The origin of the word Condom is most probably "Condatomagus" which means market at the confluence. The Gele stream joins the River Baise which is presumably the confluence.

Photos to follow.......

  1. Start of the day in La Romieau at 6.30 am

  2. Introduction to Condom

  3. Lunch overlooking the Square

  4. The magnificent Condom Cathedral

  5. Mill on the River Baise which once sent trade to Bordeaux.

Good stable weather for H/A Balloons

A rule in the gite

Always take your boots off at the front door and store your walking poles nearby!

Auvillar to Lectoure to La Romieu to Condom

We arrived at Auvillar on the 19th. It was voted by the French to be one of the prettiest small villages

In France with very good reason. We stayed at the Gite Communal which was outstanding. A full

range of facilities and a panoramic hillside view which included a nuclear power station

We walked 33k. from

Auvillar to Lectoure where we arrived very tired. It was our longest walk.

We had time only to do our washing, have dinner ,see the sights and go to bed. 

La Romieu was easier. I went to the UNESCO listed church and cloisters and then to a dormitory

Gite which was once a convent. We bought dinner at a deli and ate it with the others at the gite.

Today was another easy walk to Condom. 

Tomorrow will be different as we have 34 k. to walk on a hot day.

I eat a lot of roadside fruit as we walk. Here is what is available and when-

Blackberries.   - anytime

Blueberries.     -Alpine only

Apples.            -some varieties are o.k now

Purple date plums-  just right now

Yellow plums.     -ditto

Brown skinned pears- ready

Peaches.        -soon

Cherries.        -season now finished

Melons.         -now from roadside stalls

Cheers to all

Tim

Moissac to Auvillar

These photos summarise our rather soggy day's 20 Km. to Auvillar. We passed corn and fruit trees to at least 12 feet high in the flood plains surrounding the Tarn and Garonne rivers. I will try to get these photos in order!

 1. Canal at Moissac

 2. Another way to holiday in Southern France

 3. Along the canal to Pommevic

 4. Crossing the Garonne River in the rain - T and G

 5. Central square in Auvillar

Pilgrim passport for the Camino

One has regressed back to days at 2nd.Camberwell Scouts when collecting badges and belt stamps were all the go. When we pay for accommodation at a gite it is quite formal and in exchange for our 12 to 15 Euro we are offered a stamp on the passport purchased at LePuy for 5 Euros.

The attached photos are some of the 27 obtained so far !!