A slightly restless night was followed by a 6.30am wake up call. Oh yeah, it’s mine….sorry French dude upstairs?! After blister plasters were administered and talc for the chaffing, I packed my bag, ate a slightly dry croissant, had my pilgrim passport stamped and head off into the early morning light. There are some serious clouds today and a very strong wind, oh dear I do believe it may rain….
With my feet the way they are I have had to slow my it’s art right down. Just as well as within half an hour I’m facing some serious uphill walking. Now don’t get me wrong, fifteen years ago I would have run up a mere hill like this, but back then I wasn’t nearing 15 stone with a 3.5 stone backpack on me, I was fitter, healthier, and had only smoked for half as long as I had up until a month ago (when I quit…again)…. Oh I could so smoke right now?!!
Well I kept my coat on all day, I was a little sweaty but meh… The rain held off but the wind kept up and the sun was in & out like…. Hmmmm?!
Today has been miserable, with some beautiful scenery. The ups were killing me, the downs were killing my feet. One minute I was happy on my adventure, the next miserable and lonely, missing my girlfriend (and I haven’t got to the stage of full on conversation with myself yet).
I managed 13km to Monistrol-d’Allier by lunch. I could have carried on, despite the soreness and my feet, but I had arranged to meet my parents for lunch as they were heading back over to their place in the Lot. After lunch, where we discovered our chef was originally from Taunton, bizarre… I waved my parents off and went back to my shared room, no one else here yet… Woo hoo. (Luckily for me it stayed like that to).
Again, the low swept over me, now it really is me on my own, with sore f^*king feet! To make matters worse the next 31km are all up hill…yippee…
They do say the first week is the hardest….(especially if you haven’t trained)…!