Mind Games

Troisième jour - Friday 19th June, Lauzerte to Moissac - 29.8 klms (running total approx 76.4)

There were many potential titles for today’s blog, but after an elapsed time of just under 10 hours on the road, of which Strava tells me that we were moving for 7 of them, I chose this one, for reasons which are probably clear enough.

Before I go one, here's a link to show today's journey (and if one of my kind readers who does not use Strava can tell me whether the link actually works that would be much appreciated).

A walk like this tests one physically, mentally and spiritually. Not much of the last one yet, as the first two are totally dominant. During the day the legs hurt something awful at times, and the shoulders still aren't used to the weight of the backpack. So then the mind starts to play tricks: can I make it today? what's my backup plan? And the like. Good old fashioned self doubt stuff. I had my fair share first thing as we left Lauzerte, and then later today as we headed up the umpteenth hillclimb in the 37-degree heat.

But make it we did. One of the longest days in all my caminos (bearing in my that they now total some 2,500 klms - not as many as some but more than most). Traipsing in along the hot bitumen footpaths for the last couple of klms into Moissac (it's a big town), took all the willpower I could muster ( and few rest stops) just to keep the self defeating mind games at bay. I guess that's one of the key lessons of a walk like this.

I'm not going to go into much detail of the day - too tired - and rather will make a few bullet-points and then some photos.

• After our somewhat odd (pleasant, but odd) accommodation experience, we left reasonably early, but without any breakfast, which contributed to the mind games

• A couple of hours in we were treated to a donativo stall with the most fabulous cherries and apricots

• Around midday we got to Durfort-Lacapelette, where we chanced upon Alain and Lourdes again. We lunched and chatted for an hour or so and then headed our respective different ways. Sadly our paths won't cross again

• That left a 5-hour 17 klm stroll ahead of us. More mind games

• The last 3klms was very hard, but of course the last 1/2/3 klms aways are

• Our accommodation for the night La Maison Lydia, run by the delightful Beatrice, is lovely. About to go exploring.

That'll do. A few photos:

Above two - early morning Lauzerte

Leaving Lauzerte

The GR65 official way markers. Critical for a successful walk. Apart from yesterday's mix up, we've missed two sets as we've been leaving towns, resulting in some unnecessary and annoying backtracking. Rookie errors ...

Pigeonnier 'Le Chartron', with pigeon

The countryside really is very pretty

And last, a couple from Moissac tonight ...

20klm walk, dead flat alongside the canal tomorrow. No mind games I hope.