My panic last night at having forgotten my phone charger was happily assuaged this morning. The hotel had a bin of forgotten cables, none of which fit my phone, but Hubert appeared at breakfast and was carrying two cables, so he very kindly gave me one, and in the hotel’s bin I found a plug that fit the cable. What a relief. The phone is an absolutely vital piece of equipment as it has my map which, given the erratic path signage, is essential!
More and more half-timbered houses, some dating from the 16th century, all very old. Here is wisteria in bloom on the wall of a farm complex.
Hubert pointed out that this is an old wash house where people came to do their laundry in the stream.
The path led up to an isolated memorial to the Mont Moret battle of 1914, when over four very bloody days the French held off the German advance. It was actions like these that resulted in the Western Front, a line that held for four years and that prevented further German advances into France.
And a surprising and greatly appreciated find. Just at the point where we were wanting to stop for a picnic lunch, there was a bar that was open! This type of establishment used to be in nearly every village. Hubert maintains they closed because of high taxation. Maybe. Anyway, they had made potatoes and jarret de porc (a greasy cut on the bone) for their own lunch and to sell. I had just the potatoes - the best meal of the trip so far, according to me! Here is their oven for pizza, bread, meat… and a quick shot of the place.
At my day’s destination Hubert and I parted as he walked a bit further to another gîte for the night. Knowing how the pilgrim ways work out, we may well meet again somewhere on the path.
Love the wisteria- covered timber house. Hard to believe people are still living in these instead of tearing them down and buildings more modern ones. The state of the flags at that memorial made me quite sad, but you cheered me up no end with your tale of delicious potatoes!
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