day 12 -- draft
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Vaylats to Cahors
24 km today - 345 km  to date

I put some dressings on the two wounds and add some hiker's wool between them and then the sock.

I glance at the GR 65 path as I pass it and confirm my intention to use the roads again.

Yes, it is Sunday morning and again there is little traffic about.  The significant village of Lalbenque comes up within two hours and I change to a northerly direction towards Cahors.

The countryside since Limonge on Saturday has been of an open rolling style, not unlike the country between Palmerston North / Ashhurst and Hawera.  Shortly after passing under a motorway I encounter the GR 65 again - it is still rocky and uneven so I continue on the road.  The toe on the left foot begins to distract me again and with about 7 km to go I begin thumbing for a ride.  Even though there are a lot of cars about it takes a while to be successful.

Dropped off immediately after crossing the River Lot and entering Cahors I go to the Pilgrims information office on the bridge and get a bed for the night.  This is in a gite on the south east and medieval side of the town.  The building is in a very narrow lane and has probably never seen sunlight.  It would be about 4 metres wide and not very deep and at least five stories tall. As laid out the entry level is a reception space. The first floor is the kitchen and dining area.  The second floor is my bedroom  (all to myself - absolute luxury) and toilet and separate shower / handbasin.  The third floor has bunks for four with sleeping accommodation of some sort on the next two floors.

It all seems to work and we are at least 10 for dinner, six of whom are from Paris for a specialised dance symposium, the name of which I did not catch.

And so to bed.