Cajarc: bringing the world together.
Today, I woke up at 5:00am, but took me 30 minutes to put my socks on. The burning pain of my ankles dominated my mind all morning. I though I would not walk 3km, one of these days that you fell going nowhere. Then it became an amazing day. I made it fast, between ups and large downs. Passing Figeac, a big ascension was waiting for me. The pain on my ankles was out of control, the analgesic “pomade” was not working, the ibuprofen was not hitting the muscles. Suddenly, at half of the hill, I heard Cecile: Padre! I met Cecile, the first day I arrived to Lyon, at the train station. She is a welder by profession, and had learned English, when she worked in New Zealand.
She is a fast walker. She has been ahead of my for 2 days, but don’t know how, there she was passing me again. Two young kids in their teens passed me immediately. I would see them here and there, sitting on the road, eating, drinking and laughing, as they always do.
Then I entered Faycelles, an enchanted village with very warm people. Love the simplicity of the village, and the old character of the small houses. There were three houses for sale on my path. I had to enter the church. Doors opened! (See Picts on Instagram account). The Church was built same years as St. Joseph, and consecrated the same year.
I stopped a local bar to buy an Orangina, as soon as I opened it I was covered on bees! I did not what to do. I just kept drinking it until one bee fell on the bottle.
I kept walking for 15 km when I started felling thirsty. There are not sources of potable water in this region. Then God sent me a gift, thousands of prune trees on the path. I was tempted, I tasted, delicious! Then thousands of figs trees with fruits appeared! I felt in paradise! The trees were taller than peaches trees.
After ten more km, Cecile was finishing her lunch. She asked me about my ankles. Then she said: that pain is normal, just walk the fast you can. Really? That is the solution to the pain. I listened to her, did 30 more km following here., at light speed!
I am amazed to see people of all ages doing this journey, when we reach the village of Grealou, I had to pause. A mother with three girls having a picnic under a pine tree. I said: no way! Well there was a car close by, and I thought how great a mother to bring the girls to the park to greet Pelerins.
Cecile and I went to the local park to refill our bottles of water, then continue the last 17kms for the day. And then from no where, I saw the mother and two daughters walking behind us, I asked Cecile, where not they four? Cecile said, look at her back! What? They walked with us for 10 kms, faster like a gazelles flock. Their names Atis, Flora, Luna, and Mila. Mom was carrying the baby in her back, her back pack on her chest and a shopping bag in her right hand. They were not wearing hiking shoes, but sandals. They were from Belgium, walking El Camino. They stopped to feed the baby, and of course, the natural way. We have to continue without them. Cajarc was not showing up on our path. It was 5:30pm. When arrived to the village, there was a big Africajarc Festival. The village was very alive and African booths and music was coming from everywhere. Because was not room in town, we were picked up by our host. We had a great dinner. Here in southern France to eat private homes is like to eat at a fancy restaurant for 12 Eur. Bernadette was good cook or I was hungry. We ate at the dining table, because was raining outside. Bernadette’s granddaughter was watching children programs on a near computer. I brushed my teeth after dinner and went to bed. It is 3:20 am, I was waked up by itching feet, ouch!