She Follows Shells: Day 16- Figac to Corn ( a variant route on the Cele Valley)

Today would be layered with so many experiences, adventures and stories. A super long day. We would end the day cowboy camping and happy, but what a marvelous day!!!!

We would successfully wake up at 0450 ( Reichen changed the alarm thinking we might not make the train if we kept my original 0500 time. We ended up at the station with a good thirty minutes to spare. We got up, stayed quiet, packed and were out at 0530. The route was remembered with only about five minutes questioning one turn. Thank goodness for flashlights! This is a simple sweet walking path for those considering it.

We were the only ones at the train station where it is so small you board the train and pay them once on. We alone sat on the train.

Standing behind the nice conductor...

At 0730 we are deposited onto the morning streets of Figac. This is early by our standards but many pilgrims start at this time. On the Frances ( the name of the Camino route from the border of France through Spain) you are typically out or kicked out by 0800 to start walking but the Norte and this Camino you seem to get to pick your starting time. Since not staying in pilgrim hostels ( called gites in France and Auberges in Spain) we get to do what we want. We started on " The Way" ( the Chemin in France, the Camino in Spain) and quickly thought we should look for a grocery and backtracked some. We arrived at one of our favorite groceries, Carrfours, forty five minutes before it opened. We hated to sit around and wait but convinced ourselves this was the right thing to do. Having a full supply of goods saves tons of money and anxiety, food does rule out here!

Grocery stores are small on this route but today we would hit a nice sized store. The smaller city ones are typically more expensive but today's would be a nice sized one with reasonable prices. I would spend about 80 dollars and can not buy one dinner for all of us in a restaurant for less. We would buy our typical goods and of course icecream for breakfast ( as it would melt otherwise)!!!!!

Loading our food among the donkeys to carry, uh oh we don't have donkeys to carry the load ...

Everyone is happy, food really does bring up our spirits!

We would meet this pilgrim who has walked from Hungary...

This pretty gal, there is always one that won't take her eyes off of us...

We passed beautiful homes and buildings...

We had no idea where we would stop today, and there was comfort in that. I forgot to mention this but it is important... There is a variant to the GR65 called, GR651 and it is through the Cele Valley. I knew little about it but heard it was beautiful, David recommended it and my gut instinct told me to do it. It's not really in my books but one page in the back lists the towns which I hope is enough. We would have about ten kilometers to officially decide. Two kilometers away from decision we stopped in a small town for my coffee while the kids made lunch near the church.

The slow pokes coming into town minutes later as they were picking grapes...

Lunch by the church, lucky me I put in my order, run off to have a coffee and return to " lunch served"...

We were just packing up when a pilgrim I had never met before ( keep in mind we are behind our bubble of pilgrims) walked up for water. A quick conversation and I would find he started in Stutgart Germany I think two months ago. He was prepared to walk with a group this morning that sort of splintered and was left to be on his own today. This is part of the Camino and such events usually open up another great adventure. If one chooses the Cele Valley, you must have ample food and money on you as it is known for scenery vs commercial accommodations. He had never considered the Cele route but sticking with us for an hour before decision convinced him. We had plenty of food and oddly had bought meat packages with eight slices this morning vs six ( meant to be we now know).

We took a break that resulted in a few kiddos taking a nap ( we did start the day at 0500)...

What a great day!

Daniel was a welcomed addition to our group. He has never slept outside during his Camino and seemed excited when we offered him a hammock and the chance to " savage camp" in a spot in the wilderness.

We passed...

Grapes, peaches, figs, plums, nuts and berries all day, Daniel fit right in with picking and eating. He shared it was nice to slow down and experience the Camino through the kids eyes.

We would stop in Corn, a beautiful little town with no campsite and maybe a gite. A resident suggested a place to camp wild:)...it was perfect near a bathroom and water.

We camped off to the left of this bridge, dipped our feet into the cold water and had a feast of food for dinner based on our grocery visit this morning...