Day 35 / Périgueux-Sourzac/ 44.7 km

I slept relatively well although during the night my roommate left our room every hour. I compensated my roommate night outings by waking up before 7 and drop non intentionally, but maybe subconsciously, my charger loudly on the floor. I think my roommate will not need his alarm this morning.

I have breakfeast. French breakfeast. The hospitality offered by the Périgord friends of saint Jacques is great. The place is though not my habitat. The people,hosting and residing are polite, gentle, but way to serious on what they are doing. I’m probably overdosing on hiking clothes, sandals, white socks and devoteness. I’m happy to leave.Time for some running.

Today a beautiful, warm, day is predicted. The prediction will not disappoint. Leaving Périgueux I pass the Dutch couple which was also at the Pilgrims place. Some couples wear similar trainings to establish themselves as a couple, this Dutch couple shows their symbiosis through similar backpacks,walking sticks and shoes. They go painstakingly slow. But hey, each person has to do what he needs to do. 

I leave the city relatively quickly with a steep climb. It’s still somewhat chilly. Today I’m going to Sourzac near Mussidan. The pilgrims gite at Mussidan complete but I have found an “acqueil pélerin” 3 km from Mussidan. My Garmin informs me the distance is 41 km. 

The route and views are great. A lot of  ascents and descents though. In total I will do 1621 height meters today. During the first 25 km I do not see a lot of people even pass a lot of villages. The limited habitation I pass are either farms, or hamlets with some houses. Sometimes a house in the middle of nowhere. Often well restored, swimming pool and a great view on a valley. The only village of size I pass is Saint Astier where I think it’s nice to play “Jeu de boule” and drink a rosé or pastis under the platanes at the village square. Instead I go into a pharmacy and buy some sun cream. 

After Saint Astier I continue to run up and down. It’s getting warm. Temperatures predicted round 20º but it feels above 25º. I pass a castle where you can sleep as a pilgrim. I pass some sheep. I pass beautiful views. 

If I want to go to Sourzac following the Compostela Route it will take me 47 km. As I’m not that devote I decide to take a shortcut following a Route Verte along the river L’isle which should bring me to my destination in 42 kilometres instead. Route vertes are paved bicycle routes. Based upon the information boards the infrastructure is made possible (read payed) by European. The infrastructure is nice although the bridges (I passed 2) could have been more modest in size. But hey Europe payed so who cares....

The advantage of following a river is it’s mainly flat. Around 3 km before my destination I encounter a French pilgrims couple. Kiki and Georges. Georges pulls a chariot. He is 71. Kiki wears a bad fitting Decathlon backpack. She is 57. They started 2 weeks ago and will stay at same gite I’m staying. By now I have run 41 km and I decide to walk the last km together with Kiki and George. Georges takes over the gps function of my Garmin and as results we do at least 3 km extra. I don’t care, 3 km extra is a small price to pay for a nice conversation. I learn that they are 34 year together, worked all that time together as artisanal tile makers. Georges stopped working, Kiki is still working. 

When we finally arrive at Sourzac, I think it’s now above 25º,  I talk with another couple (I know, I’m getting too sociable) who are returning with their camper from Spain and spontaneously offer us some coffee and biscuits. 

After the coffee we call the gite owner. The gite is an old farm. I have my own room, there is a swimming pool which is not yet open. If it was open I would have taken a swim. For food we can choose out a variety of canned and premade food. Dinner is soup, Rabbit pâté, Duck legs with potatoes, red wine and good conversation. I have aten worse. Price 6 € in total. After dinner and dishwashing I want to update the blog. I give up typing after 15 minutes. Put down my Ipad and fall asleep. It has been a long,exhausting, warm but beautiful day.

Lessons learned :

- I could use a “coiff”. Maybe.

- I encountered Eric and Katrien called Kiki and Georges.

Song of today : Trois nuits par semaine - Indochine

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