Day 14 / Brienne le Château -Bar sur Seine / 39.5 km

After a fitfull sleep, without any sounds of neighbour lovers, at Hotel des Voyageurs, breakfeast consumed, I was ready for another day. 

Today would be dry, sunny and not to warm. The ideal runner’s day. I’m somewhat excited as the route will  bring me for 15 kilometre through the “foret Orient or Templars forrest”’. The forrest is owned today by the state but in the middle ages it was owned by the Templars. It is around 1200 hectare in size. The road would be straight and slightly “wobbling” up and down. 

Before hitting the road I bought food (there would be no nothing to buy in the villages I’m passing) and some runners medical stuff; Voltaren gel and tape  to keep the divorce of a toe and it’s nail under control.

I spend the first 4 km along a departmental before turning to the right to meet a path to Lac d’Auzon-temple which is an artificial lake to protect Paris of inondation. I passed the smallest lake. Which looked already big.

After following the lake I run towards the Orient forrest. Ńobody is around except an old iron cross. 

I start running the forrestroad. It’s great not to hilly, with as background the sound of birds and wind. Unfortunate every so much time I hear also the sound of a passing airplane. I doubt if it is even possible in Europe not to hear airplaines passing. Planes seem to be everywhere these days. I ignore the noise of the airplanes above me and enjoy the forrest ride. 

After 20 km I exit the forrest. 19 km’s to go. Time for lunch. I’m in a small village called La Loge-aux-Chèvres. I eat some Pain de Raisins which seems to become a a standard part of my diet. A man working in the garden directs me to right direction. One of the reasons I started talking to him was to score a coffee. He did not bite. But we had interesting discussion on which path to take. Left or right. I decided to take right. 

Some 100 meter further I encounter a roadsign directing to Compostela. The owners of the garden where the roadsign is residing are not home. I think they would have be better candidates to lure into giving me a coffee.

Thanks to my decision to choose the right way (I always do) I’m running on a mudroad, take out my shoes to cross a small river with an expanded ego. I’m rewarded by a path running in between 2 lakes. I see a lot of birds taking of when they hear me. A beautiful place for birdwatchers. I’m not a birdwatcher,  but enjoying the views anyway.

Ahead I go. Back on paved roads. The railway track, the road I pass and skies seems/are endless.

35 kilometers my legs get tiered. They have climbed and descended a lot of hills. The last 4 kilometers I start, need, to walk. I pass the Seine, quite different from how (I think) most people know the Seine from visiting Paris ; smaller, wilder, less captivated. I follow a path along the pubering Seine to arrive in Bar sur Seine. I’m quite disappointed as most bars seems to be closed.

Since yesterday I’m trying to contact the local priest who (following the tourist office) is  lodging pilgrims. After calling, texting and finally emailing I got his  reply : he is not at home. The reply is also not clear if he can/want to lodge me. The only other option is a hotel, Hotel La commerce, who will close for the week for vacation as from this afternoon but can offer me a (a non pilgrim budget compliant) bed. Arriving, I call the priest. No reply. I opt for the room at the hotel. I pay and check in. The priest emails me he is expecting me. I hope for the priest the communication with his God is more efficient. I shower to wash the lost e-mails and calls away. 

A couple of posts ago I mentioned one of my toes is in a ugly divorce with a it’s nail. Today the nail comes to a final decision the relation doesn’t work for her anymore and she goes her own way. A painfull divorce follows. The aftermath is not yet clear. 

Lessons learned :

-  There are more pizzeria’s in France then any other restaurants.

-  Probably there are more pizzeria’s in France than in the rest of the world.

-  There are more kebab restaurants in France than any other restaurant, except pizzeria’s 

-  Losing nails can be sometimes painful. 

-  There are opportunities as communication consultant for priests.

-  It was great running today. 

-  After 35 kilometers my legs have enough. Pussies !

- snow is predicted this weekend.

Song of the day : Birds and breeze

T.

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