Day 9- EstaingDay 9 finds us in Estaing, one of the denoted “Beautiful Villages of France”. What we have seen lives up to that accolade. We are staying the night in a vast and bourgeois house which today holds the Hospitalite Saint-Jacques. By today’s standards bourgeois is no longer an appropriate appellation; historically significant true, but a little Spartan is more accurate. However, when you meet the two lay people whose mission has been to run this refuge for over 25 years and their 3 month volunteer helper, it feels you have found the perfect resting place. There is Mass tonight in their chapel, plus the office of Compline. In the morning there is the office of Lauds. Attendance as these services is optional but for me they are an essential part of our pilgrimage. Naturally we will remember all undertaking this pilgrimage in spirit with us. Today’s path was delightful. A local resident of Saint-Come-d’Olt advised us to ignore the official GR65 route and instead follow a road the ran close to and at times alongside the river Lot. How fortunate we were to encounter this nice man from Portugal (married to a French girl and living in Saint-Come-d’Olt). Naturally the whole conversation took some time to complete with his very limited English and our equally limited French. It is unlikely to be the type of encounter you would expect, but here on the Camino anything is possible. It was further complicated by my disbelief that his advice should be accepted! Not only did we avoid a path that was in poor condition, plus a number of steep climbs, but we were treated to outstanding views of a very fast flowing river Lot. I must reprimand myself for not letting go of wanting to be in total control and to trust in the goodness of others. Another lesson from the Camino. Enda has included a number of pictures of today’s walk, one showing another candle being lit (and prayers said) for all those who have asked to be remembered along The Way. We now have a page set up (thank you Tara) where your name may be added, or the name of someone you wish to pray for added. Just mail me [email protected] to have it included. It may take a couple of days for the name to appear.
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