DAY 31 : FRANCE : ARTHEZ-DE-BEARN to NAVARRENX - 30 kms - 8 (long) hours

Distance walked so far : 677 kms

Weather today : warm, no breeze : 21o


 

View of Arthez-de-Bearn from our window.
The adjective of Bearn is Bearnaise - so that's where
the sauce originated from!

Our meals were served in the formal dining room.
The house has 13th century origins. One of the mistresses of
Henry 1V lived here. The Bic (biro) family lived here before
migrating to America. Fritz and Mike found a family
grave site in the cellar. This led them to believe a
Protestant family lived here during the house's history
as they were not allowed to bury family members
in Catholic cemetries.
 

As we left Arthez-de-Bearn and walked down the ridge
we came across a huge hunting party all sitting in wait.
In the valley in front of them there was a great commotion
of dogs (some wearing cowbells) barking and yelping, some of the shooters
blew traditional horns to unsettle the deer.

Marring the view this morning was the huge Usine de
Lacq, one of France's biggest industrial natural gas
works.
 

We love our picnic lunches - resting in the shade.

 

Navarrenx. Population 1,500.
First town to be fortified with Italian style (16th century)
ramparts.

 

Lovely surprise to see a balloon above
the main street as we entered the town.

 

 

Another night in a hotel before we resume our normal
routine - gites communal etc.

 

Only 873 kms to go.....

 

Today was the last day of our baggage transportation and we were grateful that we were travelling light as it was a hard slog on steep roads without shade. We are delighted that we've been able to clock up over 90 kms in 3 days. We couldn't do that pace all the time - our bodies definitely creak when we stop - or should I say stoop.


M&M
3/10/12