Adventures in France-Land, Walking VI (part 2)

Posted: June 14, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Me, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments
Where were we.....oh yes, walking (mainly uphill) from Duravel to Puy L'eveque

Where were we…..oh yes, walking (mainly uphill) from Duravel to Puy L’eveque.

Then I saw this - if you remember there was a sign in Duravel assuring me Puy L'eveque was only 5km away. Well here we are 3 KM into our walk and now we've got double the distance we were expecting still to go.

Then I saw this – if you remember there was a sign in Duravel assuring me Puy L’eveque was only 5km away. Well here we are 3 KM into our walk and now we’ve got double the distance we were expecting still to go.  I know 2 more km might not seem like a lot but at that point, on that day, IT WAS!

Oh well, at least we met these guys (turns out to be the highlight of my daughter's day)

Oh well, at least we met these guys (turns out to be the highlight of my daughter’s day)

Then we walked up more hills.

Then we walked up more hills.

We began walking uphill backwards because when you are 7 and you've been walking uphill for 2 hours this is a good idea.

We began walking uphill backwards because when you are 7 and you’ve been walking uphill for 2 hours this is a good idea.

Almost there.

Almost there.

Sweet reward for their efforts.

Sweet reward for their efforts.

I'm not kidding, more inclines. Sigh....more like HEAVE.

I’m not kidding, more inclines. Sigh….more like HEAVE.

It's a mirage - but not, cause it was actually there. This "bathroom in the hills", promised a much needed water refill and porcelain potty break. Alas, there was no water and all those doors were LOCKED! &%$#!!!!

It’s a mirage – but not, cause it was actually there. This “bathroom in the hills”, promised a much needed water refill and porcelain potty break. Alas, there was no water and all those doors were LOCKED! &%$#!!!! (A special thanks to “The photographer” who broke in and tried his damnedest to hydrate his family)

 

For a second I think I'm hallucinating when I see pancakes growing out of a tree.

For a second I think I’m hallucinating when I see pancakes growing out of a tree.

There's no water on this portion of the trail, but there is this handy bench in the middle of nowhere which is odd but fantastic.

There’s no water on this portion of the trail, but there is this handy bench in the middle of nowhere which is odd but fantastic.

 

Despite my hangover from lunch and the 90 degree inclines we walked that afternoon, this was quickly becoming one of my most favorite days ever.

Despite my hangover from lunch and the 90 degree inclines we walked that afternoon, this was quickly becoming one of my most favorite days ever.

One of my favorite views.

One of my favorite views.

 

Just WOW.

Just WOW.

I spy something yellow. But who cares, the yellow is in the town of Puy L'eveque! We made it.

I spy something yellow. But who cares, the yellow is in the town of Puy L’eveque! We made it.

 

Turns out Puy L'eveque is gorgeous, weird (like you feel the mafia is watching you) but gorgeous.

Turns out Puy L’eveque is gorgeous, weird (like you feel the mafia is watching you) but gorgeous.

And after waiting two hours for the hotel to open their doors (see previous mafia note) we got all settled in just as the rain started to pour.

And after waiting two hours for the hotel to open their doors (see previous mafia note) we got all settled in just as the rain started to pour.

 

Goodnight Puy L'eveque (I hope there aren't any horse heads in the bed tonight)

Goodnight Puy L’eveque (I hope there aren’t any horse heads in the bed tonight)

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Adventures in France-Land, Walking VII (part 1)

Posted: June 3, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Me, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Our final walking day, Saint-Front-sur-Lemance to Puy-l'Eveque. Our gracious host Mme. Finnegan from Le Seguinet offers to take us to the most famous castle in the region, Bonaguil Castle.

Our final walking day, Saint-Front-sur-Lemance to Puy-l’Eveque. Our gracious host Mme. Finnegan from Le Seguinet offers to take us to the most famous castle in the region, Bonaguil Castle.

Those cutouts you see at the top were for pouring boiling water on would-be intruders.

Those cutouts you see at the top were for pouring boiling water on would-be intruders.

My daughter opts to completely skip the castle in favor of making friends with le chat.

My daughter opts to completely skip the castle in favor of making friends with le chat.

Now back to the glorious business of walking.

Now back to the glorious business of walking.

We saw this double circle, triangle mark a few times. Haven't cracked the code yet.

We saw this double circle, triangle mark a few times. Haven’t cracked the code yet.

Meet the photographer.

Meet the photographer.

Any guesses to what's going on here? Since we did not pass another soul while walking, the trail became a never ending porta potty.

Any guesses to what’s going on here? Since we did not pass another soul while walking, the trail became a never ending porta potty.

Welcome to the bustling metropolis of Duravel where we plan to have our first ever "lunch in a restaurant" since we started walking!

Welcome to the bustling metropolis of Duravel where we plan to have our first ever “lunch in a restaurant” since we started walking!

One of the many benefits of walking is smelling everything along the way.

One of the many benefits of walking is smelling everything along the way.

I'm not really sure what was going on here.

I’m not really sure what was going on here.

But then I saw this picture and realized he was praying for the powers to make the juice jump into his mouth without the aid of a straw.

But then I saw this picture and realized he was praying for the powers to make the juice jump into his mouth without the aid of a straw.

Here we go, our first French country cafe lunch. It's a five course affair. Soup, antipasta, pasta with meat, cheese and dessert. All the while the wine is FLOWING. Fixed price $13 Euro.

Here we go, our first French country cafe lunch. It’s a five course affair. Soup, antipasta, pasta with meat, cheese and dessert. All the while the wine is FLOWING. Fixed price $13 Euro.

Here's who eats it. Everyone. It's not a formal deal, on the contrary, it's very casual and friendly.

Here’s who eats it. Everyone. It’s not a formal deal, on the contrary, it’s very casual and friendly.

More "would be illegal in the US activity" - this cheese board gets passed around table to table. No sneeze guard, No gloves, help yourself and pass it along.

More “would be illegal in the US activity” – this cheese board gets passed around table to table. No sneeze guard, No gloves, help yourself and pass it along.

Here we are leaving Duravel, I won't speak for my husband, but I am far from sober at this point. I've calculated we only have about a 5 km walk to our end destination, no problem under tipsy conditions.

Here we are leaving Duravel, I won’t speak for my husband, but I am far from sober at this point. I’ve calculated we only have about a 5 km walk to our end destination,should be  no problem under tipsy conditions.

This is a town sign confirming my calculation, Puy-L'eveque, our end destination is about 5 km away.

This is a town sign confirming my calculation, Puy-L’eveque, our end destination, is about 5 km away.

Here's what the sign didn't say, it's up hill almost the ENTIRE way. That may not look steep, but trust me, it is.

Here’s what the sign didn’t say, it’s up hill almost the ENTIRE way. That may not super look steep, but trust me, it is.

More inclines. I'm kind of regretting the table wine at this point.

More inclines. I’m kind of regretting the table wine at this point.

Notice the elevated vantage point and pretty view.

Notice the elevated vantage point and pretty view.

 

Dancing as I climb seems to be a better option than crying.

Dancing as I climb seems to be a better option than crying.

Notice the elevated vantage point and pretty view. Will we reach Puy-L'eveque?Find out next time.

Notice the elevated vantage point and pretty view. Will we reach Puy-l’Eveque? Find out next time.