BLOG : Our daily adventures,
Week 50 - Nestier to Arguilla
June 18th to 24th 2023
- Day 344: June 18th: Nestier (Monastere du Mont d'Ares) to Saint-Bertrand-de Comminges - 16 km
We woke up under the protecting roof of the monastery's stage and Philippe the co-organizer of yesterday's jazz concert was there cleaning the place. He kindly invited us for breakfast upstairs where the musicians where staying for the night. After a copious brunch and an interesting conversation about Phillipe and his brother Johnny's project/company, we left with our backpacks filled by the food generously provided. What a beautiful place full of potential to host artistic workshops and an eventual recording studio. Feeling excited about such an original venue, I've shared, that morning, a few of the ideas which were bubbling in my head. I'm looking forward to seeing if a few of them will materialize themselves.
Dear friends in my music family, if you'd like to perform in a very special venue, these are the numbers to call. They are looking for musicians to promote for their spring/summer concerts series. We fell in love with the place.
Nestier and its streets full of history.
I love when villagers are supporting the pilgrims! Here they've supplied a picnic table and a poem...imparting wisdom and triggering self-reflection for the ones who walk.
Natural haircut...
Always contagious! We are also very happy to step again on a concrete road after an afternoon spent in the mud crawling under low branches and climbing over fences and getting scratched by brambles.
Right out of the woods, we found this providential fountain to clean ourselvesa nd our shoes..In the process, I found 3 tiques joyfully sucking their way on my body...Seems like I am collectioning them on this GR78 while Casey always remains free from these patasites...Why me!!!?
It is 8:30pm, we have no food left and still 8 km to walk to the next little bar/restaurant in Saint- Bertrand de Comminges, which is supposed to be closing at 10pm...Having the lighter backpack, we've splited so I could race to get food there, while Casey would take care of pitching the tent the nearest he possibly could to the city...Perfect timing, he pitched the tent right before another crazy thunderstorm while I arrived right before the bar was supposed to close. I managed to get 2 "croques Benoit" (gourmets croque-monsieur named after Benoit, the kind owner of the place who went out of his way to provide me with the last food he had in store) and one delicious slice of a Maroilles cheese pie to bring back to the tent! The run was worth it!
16 km done for a total of 4361 + 16 = 4377 km
- Day 345: June 19th: Saint-Bertrand-de Comminges to Refuge Saint Martin - 16 km
Meeting Marie-Josee and Bernard. A couple of adventurers...from crossing the Sahara with a 2-chevaux, to building their own catamarans and sailing in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean seas then touring around Europe with their caravan...what an inspiring life!
We had such a great time with these 2. Hope to meet again in Bretagne when we'll pass by their home next year!
16 km done for a total of 4377 + 16 = 4393 km
- Day 346: June 20th: Refuge Saint Martin to Saint Pe d'Ardet - 6 km
In Saint Pe d'Ardet ..meeting Luke, Sebastien, Nico ...
Sleeping at Luke's place..sheltered under the roof of his garage.
6 km done for a total of 4393 + 6 = 4399 km
- Day 347: June 21st: Saint Pe d'Ardet to Sengouagnet - 13 km
Fete de la musique in the small village of Juzet d'izaut.
glow worm..
13 km done for a total of 4399 + 13 = 4412 km
- Day 348: June 22nd: Sengouagnet to Col de Portet D'Aspet - 11 km
11 km done for a total of 4412 + 11 = 4423 km
- Day 349: June 23rd: Col de Portet D'Aspet to Coume de Mourou - 13 km
The GR78 has been recently (2019) added to the official list of trails which belong to the santiago de Compostela...And the locals have started to set little resting place for the courageous hikers..full of quotes and supportive wisdom to take away on their path...beautiful!
Lately, the villages on our way have grown more and more charming...We've crossed to the Ariege and since then we've been witnessing amazing little creative ideas and smart initiatives..the area has been recently repopulated with young entrepreneurs developing interesting eco-responsible farming and artistic projects creating a wave of new/refreshing energy in otherwise abandoned villages...there is still hope!
13 km done for a total of 4423 + 13 = 4436 km
- Day 350: June 24th: Coume de Mourou to Arguilla - 19 km
A Jesus who definitely has a very colourful crown of thorns.
19 km done for a total of 4436 + 19 = 4455 km