Jour 5 -- Figeac to Espagnac

Today was not as long a day as yesterday, but demanding enough. I left my gîte of basically young people rather late--nearly 9 a.m. I then followed a group of three of them for awhile and was later  joined by a Frenchman of about 30 or so, that I had talked with the previous evening. He, Pascal, was between jobs, after his firm down-sized, deciding he suddenly had the opportunity to walk all the way to Santiago. We passed through the "pilgrim-friendly" village of Faycelles together, but since I was walking the variant Célé Valley route, our ways split at the town of Beduer, and I continued on by myself. 

I continued on through Boussac, picnicked at some tables by the river, was joined by two other couples for lunch, then walked through rows and rows of cornfields. I then came to the charming little town of Corn with an old castle and pretty houses. Despite what its name would seem to imply, the town's name has nothing to do with the yellow grain growing nearby.  According to my research, the name is actually derived from a pre-celtic word meaning "escarpment."  I would see, and walk above many such cliffs in my days ahead following the Célé River.

From time to time I ran into the two French couples I had met in Noailhac, as both were planning on walking the Célé route, walking about 20 km with one of them as we were both staying at the Gîte Communal in Espagnac. 

Faycelles

the little church in Faycelles

"pilgrims" taking a rest stop in Faycelles

a picnic lunch by a little stream

shorn sheep with their young

The town of Corn

 

 Corn

Espagnac--the restaurant where I had dinner

carving of a pilgrim in Espagnac--always a welcome sign

 (Psalm 57)
 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody. 8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to you,  O Lord, among the peoples;
 I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast
love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to
the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let
your glory be over all the earth.