day 17 – draft
Friday, 22 April 2016
Saint Antoine to Marsolan
33 km today - 478 km to date

Breakfast is set out early and I am down by about 6h30 with a start just after 7h.

I follow the GR 65 and almost immediately wish I hadn't: slippery mud and stoney surfaces, so back to the road as soon as I can. The town of Miradoux provides a mid morning coffee break and then back on the road.

The cathedral town of Lectoure comes up about 12h30.  Being Saturday it is market day with the stalls taking over the main street.  My arrival time is also about closing time for the market, but I am able to buy some bananas and kiwi fruit for lunch.  Other walkers arrive and one couple take a photo of her and then him so my offer to photograph them together is appreciated, and they reciprocate.

After lunch, down through the town to a bridge over the River Gers.  The river is about 50 metres below the town and the road down is very steep.  This may have put pressure on the right ankle joint that causes problems in the days ahead.

Then a slow drag through country side for 9 km to the gite at Marsolan.  There are only two of us tonight.  The other, a woman born in France to Polish parents, given a German name (Rakelle, if I heard aright) and emigrated with her parents at a young age to Quebec, so we can talk.

And so to bed.