Photo: La Charite sur Loire street
September 7, 2017 I walked with Guilhem to La Charite Sur Loire, 20 km (80 km total). We walked on roads much of the way and saw many vineyards. Guilhem checked into a hotel near downtown and I visited the tourist office and they gave me the keys to the municipal gite. Later Quentin and Aurelia showed up. They were concerned about selecting a bed, being careful not to position their head pointing north. I got out my compass to help them make the right choice.
Using my phone, I reserved a couple of nights accommodation a few days in advance. I did this for all of my stays for the 7 week walk. It was especially critical for Sundays, because not all gites or municipal refuges were open then. Also, buying food on weekends and Mondays was difficult because many village shops were closed. The Miam Miam Dodo guidebook was especially valuable because it had accommodation contact information and open days/hours for shops and cafes.
I saw the sights downtown and later had a vegetable and lasagna dinner at a nearby restaurant. A baby cried almost the entire time I was there.
Photo: Road outside St Martin des Champs
September 8, 2017 As I was leaving in the predawn dark at 7:00 AM, a garbage truck came by the building and down the alley. I dropped off the key in the door slot of the tourist office, and stopped in a bar for a coffee. The garbage truck workers were also in the bar having an espresso and taking a break from their busy morning.
Today was a very windy day and a difficult day of walking, 30 km (110 km total). When I arrived in Baugy, I stopped in the Mairie. A red haired woman in a police uniform walked with me to the refuge. The refuge had 4 beds, a very large bathroom, but a tiny kitchen. Later Guilhem, Quentin and Aurelia arrived. Quentin had some very serious blisters. In the evening we went to a local pizza place for a great pizza at a good price.
Credencial stamp of gite:
Photo: Houses in La Charite sur Loire
Photo: Municipal gite La Charite sur Loire
Photo: Mairie of St Martin des Champs
Photo: Sunflowers
Map of camino segment
Map of camino trip
