Day 27 - 'Fool in the Rain' (Nogaro à Barcelonne 27 km)
Today it rained……and rained……and rained. And in between the rain was heavy rain. And through it all, my spirits were high.
Pierre and I met Rachel near the cathedral just after 8:00 to begin the day…..in the rain. Rachel and I walked together for most of the morning until she took a separate path to her gîte. With similar former career paths and life philosophies, we have quite a bit in common and this led to great conversations on a wide variety of topics. She gave me some great ideas on options for my future which definitely piqued my interest. I thoroughly enjoyed my short time with Rachel but with different intentions for walking distances, it is unlikely that I will see her again on this journey. I will miss our conversations but will definitely remain in touch. She is a special soul.
I walked alone for most of the second half of the day however Pierre would occasionally wait for me to catch up so we could chat. His young legs move a bit faster than my well-worn limbs.
The path today was through similar forests and fields of grapes and corn as on recent days however because of the heavy rain, extreme care had to be taken on many portions of the trail. The muddy path was extremely slippery in some places which necessitated slowing down and paying close attention to where you planted your sticks. By the end of the day, the shoes were completely soaked through and covered in mud. Additionally, no matter how good your rain jacket is, under these conditions of rain and wind, you will be wet - inside and out. And of course the water and mud add weight to you and your kit. It was a relief to arrive at the gîte and remove the wet clothes for a hot shower.
Ankemaria met up with us today which is fantastic as we should be walking with her for a few days. She is a very welcome and important part of this family.
Despite the adverse weather conditions today, I had a good day. With the rain and wind trying to wipe the smile from my face, I would not have wanted to be anywhere else today. I am exactly where I need to be right now.
