Dogs like me and I like dogs

This one just jumped up on my lap. It belonged to the owner of the bar and kept on running between the bar and their home on the other side of the square.

Powerfull green stuff

Looks like green poison or even gasoline with a twist. Taste is good, but really makes you sit up. One glass was enough for between me and Kristin. It was a so called green liquer from a local plant. Two glasses would have put us to sleep.

Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac

The view across the roof from our lodging in St. Chely - small town from the middle ages. The house we lived in was 600 years old and had lots of details left from that time. (Yet of course it had been refurbished and we had a room with shower and toilet

The Cross II

Yet another cross - this one very simple in a beautiful postition -near Aubrac

St. James the Pilgrim

Pilgrim on a sunny but windy day

The trail through Massif Central is talking the high road - this is at about 1300 meter above sea level - some km before Rieutort. Sunny and windy - a Gore-Tex jacket on top of my shirt was a good thing.

After three four days on the trail the backpack on your shoulders become a part of your life and feels lighter than before.... It is good to feel that you are getting into shape.

The Cross

French villages in Auverne seems to have a real penchant for crosses - metal and stone and almost all the villages had them and in between. The empty cross is a sign of Christ's victory for us.

Chapel of St. Jacque in Rochegude

St. Jacque/James in English is the Saint of the Pilgrims. James the apostel that is. Very beautiful little chapel - just a small cool room to meditate in on a hot day.

Pilgrim praying

Part of the fun and joy of being a Pilgrim is to sit and pray and meditate in Churches like this.

Coming into St. Privat D'Allier

Here in this small town I prayed in the church up on hill in the background and stayed in a so called "Gite de familial" Gite is a hostel just for Pilgrims - "Familia" means that you have your meals with the family. Payment is by donation ie free.

Sleeping is in a dorm - and the food and friendship and chatting with other Pilgrims and the locals is usually excellent. French dinners is usually four-five course. Entre, main, cheese, fruit, and even sometimes an apertif to start with and of course vine during the meal.

The French like the Chinese knows how to eat!

The freedom of the Pilgrim

Being a Pilgrim - my greatest freedom is an open road and just walking towareds the horizon. And who would not like to do that when the horizon looks like this? (Towards St. Privat D'Allier) somewher in the valley below the distant hills. Most of the trail is on unpaved roads like this and forest trails - and of course a few times paved roads.

Venner på veien

This dog turned out to be quite friendly and deceided to enjoy the view together with me for a while.

Time out in Le Puy en Velay

Time out in Le Puy en Velay before starting on the trail
This square in the middel of Le Puy is called Place de Plot.
It is the traditional startin point for Pilgrims goint to Santiago about 1600km way.

What is better than starting with a Latte in a place like this?

The whole world is yours as a Pilgrim

The whole world is yours when you are on the Pilegrim path.
How about lunsh in such a place?
(You have to bring your bread and vine though)

Daughter Kristin Pilgrim in the highlands

and fields of gold and green Highlands

are between Fineyrols and Rieutort

Sitting in churches reading the bible and praying
and looking at the beautiful interior of Churches is what Pilgrims do, quite a lot of the time.

In France the churches are open all day and you can go in.
Even small villages have them and you pass through many every day - most days about 4-5km apart. That is about a Church each hour as we tend to walk about 4km an hour.

That is a ok speed with about 8-10kg on your back.

It is kind of nice - when the day is too hot the inside of the churches is cool,
when the day is too cold the inside is warm and confortable and not windy.

My favourite church was a small church in the village of La Chaze-de-Peyre it smelled of hay.

The picture below is from the church in Aumont-Aubrac - also beutiful,
but quite moderniszed in the stained glass window style

Fields of gold

Fields of Gold in the French Highlands of Massif Central (Central Mountains or highlands)

in the Middel South of France.

Towards Santiago -

I'll arrive in Santiago de Compostella one day,
even if it is going to take years.

Gates of Power - St Alban sur-Limagnole

The Pilgrim at rest - outside the gates of Power.
St. Alban

The Church of Saint Michael (on the mount) in Le Puy en Velay, France, a fantastic place.
Built in the middle ages on top of a piece of volcanic rock.
Go have a look you will not be disapointed.

My Pilgrim mate - daugter Kristine - on the steps of the Cahtedral in Le Puy en Velay.
I am priviledge - not many fathers have daughters willing to take part in this daddy more wild activities.

Pilgrim first installment

Photo taken on the 16th of June 2009.
Outside the steps of the Cathedral Notre Dame in
Le Puy en Velay - sothern France.

This was really the starting point of our pilgramage towards Santiago de Compostella in Spain about 1600km away. We had just been to mass and had been blessed by the Catholic priest.

They asked the non Catholics not to take communion, but offered a prayer instead. Strange feeling to be on that side of the "altar" for
pastor. We usully pray for the non batized in our church, but the catholics does not seem to recognice our baptisem.
Sad really that the catholics does not recognice our baptism, but never mind.
Jesus does recognice me.

Notice my soft pilgrim hat and Helly Hansen Gore tex jacket, the day was cool, about 10-15 degrees. Le Pui en Velay was just a great city and we deceided not to start walking on that day, but left the next morning.
Glad I did - Le Puy is unforgettable.