Day Three

Ready for more rain
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Day 3, May 20

Arzacq-Arraziguet to Pomps

Distance: 20km

899km to Santiago, 52km from start

Our first and only view of the Pyrenees
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Earliest start so far, a little before 8:00. Another cloudy day with sprinkles.

A good set of country lanes. After an hour and a half, hiked up a hill to a castle ruins. Near the top, an elderly fellow was using a large-handled scythe to cut grass in a small field. He saw us and came over to talk. After some pleasantries, he told Marie that the GR up ahead was extremely muddy (‘tres boue’). He proposed another route on lanes that would connect back up with the Camino in a few miles. Marie’s French is getting better every day and it was absolutely bankable then!

Our B&B at Pomps
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We passed through a series of villages making good progress. Then the rains began . . slow at first but it was soon too much. It was a good test of our gear (jacket and backpack cover)in field conditions and it worked out fine. We slogged our way for the next two hours to our next gite a kilometer beyond Pomps. This was a small private gite and Mme. Devillebichot, let us into our room. Simple pleasures are the best: a clean room to ourselves with shower, toilet, big fluffy towels. She even washed our clothes.

We dried out and relaxed. Later in the afternoon the skies cleared a bit and we had our first look at the Pyrenees. A bit like the Olympics from this distance. In the evening we enjoyed a pilgrim’s dinner provided by Mme. Devillebichot. The French couple from Versailles were at the gite as well (third night in arrow). They were joined by their neighbor Michelle. She spoke english very well and often visited the US. We had a nice time and worked through the language challenge over dinner without much problem. Mme. Devillebichot came back after dessert and announced that the weather forecast for the next few days was . . . rain. C’est la vie!

Villages: Arzacq-Arraziguet, Louvigny, Lou Castet, Larreule, Uzan, Geus-d’ Arzacq, Pomps

# Men in berets: 3 (cum)

# Consecutive dinners with Duck: 3