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9.07.08 Wednesday.
A Field near Bernadette Farm to Chateau d’Aubiac via Agen.
We met the farmer later in the evening, before pitching tents, his thick country accent and our lack of French meant communication was minimal but we understood he wished to put the cows in the field the next day (a ploy I think to stop long term camping) but we were welcome to camp for the night. Next door were several fields of sunflowers and the picture is for Betsy who loves them.
Three smelly pilgrims started south early next morning and although the route into Agen was not too long it involved four 100m ascents and a final steep descent into the valley of the Garonne and a welcome coffee, orange juice and croissant at the Café de La Gare in Agen (simply the first we came to).
The tourist office were again very helpful, yes they were Tony! (He was incensed by the inability to communicate between offices – this meant that Villeneuve who had found the campsite for us were unaware it stopped being a conventional camping 8 years previously and was now a holiday village.) They sent an email to Villeneuve on his instruction!! We then had a dilemma as there are no campsites south of Agen in reasonable walking distance, we hope we have confirmed the one in Le Romieu where we should meet Rhona on Saturday, but it will include another wild camp to get there. Since Geoff has to return to Bordeaux for his flight on Saturday we shall say goodbye tomorrow and thanks for being a great associate pilgrim. The tourist office did come up trumps and found us a great B&B at reduced price for “randonneurs” (they have travelled part of the Camino) in a small village called Aubiac just south of Agen. It was about as far south and just off our GR route as we cared to go on the very hot afternoon that remained after shopping. M. et Mme Marraud of La Metairie du Chateau are great and their building was being used for a computer seminar when we walked in. Fabrice & Evelyne were a little nonplussed at these three smelly pilgrims with big packs but very soon overcame any misgivings and not only provided us with a room but also offered us the use of their garden and kitchen so as we could do some washing and cook our supper. (They did sell us some wine though!)