More preparations

I wonder where the time has gone!  It is August already, and I am scheduled to leave for Conques in just over a month!  I haven't even done that much preparation this year, no real hikes at all.  Of course July was interrupted by a nephew's wedding in Chicago, including a car-trip with two dogs, overnighting outside of Cleveland going and coming.

Here we stop at that scenic armpit along the way--Breezewood

Zoé and Jacques enjoying the sunshine

At Independence Grove with my mother, two sisters and my niece, Sarah

I have added two possible walking dresses to my hiking wardrobe as the weather will be warmer, so I will leave at least one pair of convertible pants and some woolies behind. One of them is fairly short so will likely wear them with the leggings I used as long-underwear last time.

This one is made of the same lightweight fabric as my zip-off hiking pants

This one is a lightweight nylon knit and is much redder than in the photo

 I have also now become one of the administrators of Robert Forrester's Way of St. James - Via Podiensis - Ley Puy-en-Velay Facebook page, probably because I posted a lot items, so that is keeping me aware of the route somewhat.  Since it is a closed group, I check out potential members and attempt to make sure they are legitimate requests.  We average about 5 - 6 new member requests a week.
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After intense planning in the spring, I re-examined my previous plans and have made a few adjustments.  I have posted questions to the Camino de Santiago forum about the Célé Valley route, and on the Way of St. James - Via Podiensis - Le Puy-en-Velay route FB page,  and in reviewing the comments/responses, I have decided to definitely include the Pech Merle Cave and St. Cirq Lapopie.  I have also looked at route variants, definitely wish to avoid Decazaville, and wish to shorten my daily average stage length as much as possible. This means lengthening the number of days this will take, also upping my expenses.  The new proposed route is as follows:

 

J1  Conques

J2  Noailhac 8 km

J3  Livinhac 16.6 km

J4  Figeac 20 km

J5  Espagnac 15 km

J6  Marcilhac 19 km

J7  Cabrerets 22 km

J8  St. Cirq Lapopie 12.1 km + distance to Pech Merle Cave (1.1 km)

J9   Pasturat 11.2 km or 18?

J10 Cahors 22

J11 Lascabanes 23 km

J12 Montlauzun 16 km

J13 Durfort-Lacapelette 17.1 km

J14 Moissac 14.5 km

J15 leave

This is almost double the average time it takes most people to walk this distance, but at least I won't be killing myself in trying to walk too far, too soon.  I'm not quite sure of the huge variation in mileage between certain towns, notably St. Cirq Lapopie to Pasturat--it may depend on the route and I will have to investigate further.  I don't  have the corresponding Topo-guide or the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook, mentioned in a previous post, which should have more accurate figures.  I understand that it may be difficult to get food in at least a couple of places, as there may be no store or restaurant, so am going to need to plan according.

The route: Conques to Moissac