Our Walk Along the Via Podiensis (GR 65)

The Most Beautiful Village in France Via Podiensis Pilgrimage We set off just as it was getting light around 5:30 AM, our earliest start yet, to avoid some of the heat. The first 10 or so kilometres were a very easy and pleasant walk beside the canal, along a paved multi-use pathway. There was a nice breeze, and enough clouds to produce some raindrops every now and again. Canal Walking and the town of Malause Around 8:30 AM we came to the town of Malause, where we decided to make a short stop for some breakfast. Happily, we found a bar still open which served some excellent coffee, and a bakery just opposite that had some very tasty raisin buns. The town center was very nicely done and had an interesting church with an octagonal-shaped spire. After Malause we returned to another few kilometres of walking along the beautifully shaded canal-side path. When we reached Pommevic the GR made a detour through the town, which offered an assortment of amenities of interest to pi...

Hospitality on Chemin Saint-Jacques Via Podiensis GR65 Pilgrimage We woke up late (7 AM), and had a cool and relaxing morning in the gite, complete with a typical French breakfast in the kitchen.  Today was a rest day, so we were able to leave our bags at the gite, even though we were moving from a room to the dormitory. After breakfast, we set off to explore the city.  We began by walking to the nearby church of St. Martin.  It is a Romanesque building which is rumoured to have some elaborate frescoes inside.  When we arrived there we found a beautiful building, but although it had an interpretive sign outside it clearly wasn't maintained, and it was closed up tight. It was already getting very hot, so we wandered downtown and along the shaded path beside the canal.  As we wandered we saw a steady stream of pilgrims heading out, all looking very determined.  It seemed like some of them were so focused on the act of hiking that they didn't notice the bea...