Stage 32. Pommiers to Montverdun - 21kms, pale sun and mild

Shots in the mist - Sunday

morning. Hunting the

peace in strange paradox.

Sunday is hunting day in France and occasional shots rang out as we left the peaceful village of Pommiers. The countryside was shrouded in mist and through it the morning sun shone - a walkers' (and photographers') paradise.

We left our room by the abbey, passing the old roman milestone and leaving through the town gate.

This is looking back at the abbey.

And here's one of our room, and of the abbey from last night.

As you can see the ancient village is beautiful, as was the countryside we walked into.

The sun struggled to break through fully all day, but the temperature was mild (more rain on the way, perhaps?) and just right for walking. We played with images in the mist, and Sarah tried at one point to engage some curious Charolais in morning kalisthenics.

The path was similar to yesterday's. Rural, some long straight stretches, and very quiet.

After 7kms we came to the village of Bussy which, miracle of miracles, had a boulangerie and small bar open on Sunday morning. A little pause ensued ...

As we have walked through these villages we have been struck by the variety of colours and styles of shutters on the windows. Here's a small sampling from today.

This village church at Arthun had a list of its past priests dating back to 1288! Note the length of th last incumbency recorded: 1953 to 1996!

It was a slow day that called for a Sunday picnic, and fortunately today we had supplies to enjoy one - though finding a place to sit was more challenging. In the end we perched, one on either side of the fence, on this helpful half stile.

We took a photo of this Priory on the hill at Montverdun, and then discovered this was actually the communal gite and our lodging for this evening. 'Oh, the places you'll go', to quote Dr Seuss!! The slight hitch is that it doesn't open until six and it's getting cold...

Postscript: so now we're in our cosy little 11th century fortified abbey!! We are the only pilgrims staying here, and so have to ourselves a dormitory fit for a king with an enormous oak-beamed ceiling and stone fireplace. 

It's situated in the old two storey wooden cloister where once monks must have slept.

Next to us is the forge which, together with the chapel, is the oldest part of the complex - around 1000 years old!

From the walls, we have a 360 degree view of the entire region. What feels amazing is not only that we're here, but that heaters have been turned on, and a meal has been ferried up from the village, all to enable us to stay. We'll probably never sleep in a building as big, old and full of history as this again! The Friends of St Jacques in this area really have a commitment to pilgrimage, and these two little Aussie pelerins are extremely grateful.

Bon chemin

Neil and Sarah