Day 6: Nasbinals to St. Chely D'Aubrac, France
It is definitely raining again and Nasbinals to St. Chely D'Aubrac is 17 kms/10.5 miles from here. Before even starting out today we noticed the baggage transfer company loading up people to ride along with the bags. The local taxi drivers were probably doing a "happy dance" this morning. Big money transferring walkers in bad weather. Unfortunately, we are too obsessive-compulsive to quit anything unless the situation is critical. You can either look on this as a "good thing" or "bad thing" depending on your make-up.
Rain gear on, quick walk through Nasbinals, out the other end and across pastures for two hours, passing many walkers going to Aubrac. Aubrac is the location of the annual "Fete de Transhumance" (the reason my original choice of dates wouldn't fly), held May 27-28 every year. At that time, the Aubrac cattle are collected from the Lot Valley, garlanded and moved up to the mountain meadows. Aubrac is also a popular stop on the route depending on how many kilometers/miles you want to accomplish each day. We talked with one woman walking over 20 MILES A DAY!
The rest of Day 6 consisted of over four km's (around 2+ miles) through mud, slippery rocks, more mud, more slippery rocks, all downhill while the rain continued. The best description of this section would be similar to walking down a stream for miles while your boots filled with water. There was little shelter as the trail wound down and down through forests, past the remains of a Templars Castle with only rocks left...and ruins of a old house...
And, when an ex-Marine wears gloves, you know the weather is seriously miserable and he even looked miserable...probably because I made him stop for a photo...
...into the little village of St. Chely D'Aubrac (pop. 532). The very charming Hotel De La Vallee** was right at the entrance to the village. (Actually, at the entrance to the village that we didn't come in through and it took a three-block wander until we found it.)
The owner requested muddy, wet boots off and left in the boiler room. (Didn't blame her a bit.) There was a patisserie across the street from us and I was eagerly anticipating a yummy treat after they reopened. TIP: Almost every shop closes between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm for lunch.
By now, we were almost past caring what was served for dinner (starving to death), but the food was good. Wine from Gaillac, soup, pork, cheesey broccoli, Aligot, platter of cheese and an extremely delicious strawberry tart.
