Sept 26, 2024
13.3km to Flamarens
Sept 26: Auvillar to Flamarens, actual distance; 15km
It rained this morning as we left and continued to rain the entire hike today, and it’s still raining as we sit in our room tonight trying to dry out stuff.
The rain turned the trail into a stream and muddy mess.
Why is this guy smiling!?
Halfway point with a small restaurant/bar/cafe but we can’t stop because we’re wet and to stop is to get cold and invite chills, and that would make starting again very difficult.
A small refuge shelter on the trail. We stopped only long enough to grab a snack and drink some water.
Rain jackets for the packs was a great purchase two days ago, and they work, but it poured down so much and for so long that the rain ran down the back of our rain coats and the packs got “damp” inside.
Warming up at the cafe/refuge in Flamarens. With 1.2km to backtrack to our accommodations for tonight. The host of the guest house felt so bad because of all the rain, that she drove out to find us after we’d already left the cafe. She pulled over on the road and “persuaded” us to get in.
Wet and cold. Shedding some wet clothes and trying to warm up at the cafe/refuge in the town of flamerens. Everything was wet and it was still pouring, so no point in putting on dry clothes, plus our shoes are soaked, almost from the moment where we left this morning.
The owner of the estate we’re staying at was so concerned about us that she drove out to find us. We were walking down the road and she persuaded us to let her drive us the rest of the way to the house.
In Europe it’s customary to not turn on the heat until November, (I’m exaggerating) so it was a delight to find out that the lady who owns the lodge where we are staying tonight has the heat turned on! We drape all our wet clothes, which just about everything we were wearing, and a lot of stuff from our backpacks, over the radiator to dry.
It’s a big estate and house with multiple guest rooms, all run by a wonderful British woman, a most gracious host.
There is also a group of 5 French hikers staying here tonight, so a communal dinner was had, (which was included) along with some excellent wines.
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