Cahors II: conquest of fears
I was thinking to take the day off, and I woke up at 8:00am. I ate some bread with marmalade, and three glasses of milk. I departed toward Cahors downtown. The tourism office was opened, and I bought the new map book for my second part of France: Cahors to Rocevaux.
Yesterday was a deep descending, which mentally I was prepared to ascend today in a nice way. Crossing the bridge of Cahors to follow the path, there were two ways, a small road following the Lot river or a rock wall. I follow the white red signs as usual , when I saw a set of carved steps on the rock wall with no handles. OMG! Jesús, Mary, and Joseph! Really? I just offered myself to God, after all these kilometers, and now this. I am not going to stop now, I said. I accommodated my backpack, and hold to my walking sticks to get momentum. Step by step. I could not look back or down. The road was behind/ under me. I know the view was beautiful, but I would not look back to take a picture. No way! I keep going up, I had to go on my knees on the last two steps. It was frightening. I did not want to loose my walking sticks. I sweated like a horse winning the Kentucky Derby. OMG! (I cannot imagine doing it going down.) I would not do it!
There were small villages in between Cahors and Montcuq. Lascabans called my attention, because the sweet fragrance on the air. It was unique. I asked many residents, but they could not tell me. There were many sunflowers plantations in the area. The fields looked like ladies in green dresses wearing yellow hats. I love it! There was a little kiosk at the end of the village, where I sat down to drink two pellegrino waters. The best to drink when you walk long distances.
I forgot to tell you about my friend Cecile. Here we walk independently. Every one goes their own speed, and everyone stay in whatever gite is available. Therefore, no one set schedules or places to stay. Each person start at different hours. It is your own Camino. After starting late, and ascending from hell, Cecile was coming up after me. I asked her what happened, she just said that she started at 10 am this morning. She is having problems with her legs, as everyone else. She had to stop twice today, I just had to keep going. She is fast, I was sure she will reach me at some point.
I had lunch with Cecile and Julian. We shared what we had in our bags. I only had a can of mix vegetables and peanuts. Julian had nothing. Therefore, Cecile was our provider. We ate bread with chocolate, and bananas. I started to put turmeric to my water reserve. It is amazing for inflammation.
Tonight I stayed in a gite very interesting, well the owner was a character. He spoke very fast French, and English too. He let me use his kitchen and anything in the pantry. There was a blessing here. The owner had everything, all natural, no preserves, all spices around the world, especially from Nepal. In addition, he is a vegan, no meat today. I was selective in the pantry. I went for pasta, and tomato pure. With the spices it will taste from heaven. I made a tomato sauce with milk, and the spices. There was nothing left. The owner offered me a glass of wine, when I was cooking. Then I bought a German beer for my dinner.
Now it is time to go to bed!