07.07.08 Monday. Monflanquin to Villeneuve sur Lot The lady of the house in the B&B was very good to us and took us back into town (no forward progress by vehicle) in order for us to have a meal, really beyond any expected hospitality. They have been there 7years, her partner is a builder, and …

06.07.2008 Sunday. Castillonnes to Monflanquin. A very wet night continuous rain and thunder from 1230 onward. We got up in the rain and packed under the leaky awning of the permanent caravan next door (unoccupied) and went into Castillonnes for breakfast. We rapidly left the roads and found ourselves on what would have been great …

5.07.08 Saturday. Le Bost into Castllionnes. On the way in to the site at Le Bost we passed a vineyard selling its own wines so returned later for tastings. A very fair Rose AOC Bergerac (did not know there was one) although a bit sweet went well with the curry that evening.Dry night but cloudy …

04.07.08 Friday. Bergerac to Le Bost (near Castillonnes). Early wakening to the mist blowing up the Dordogne, but dry tents. There was also a lone Canada goose looking hopefully at us, but since we ate out in town last night close to the old church of St James, there was no stale bread for it. …

03.07.08 Thursday. Villamblard to Bergerac. A night of thunder and rain so cooler today, good walking weather. Unfortunately in the village at 0700 , half an hour before the boulangerie opened, so not wanting to wait started walking, no shops at the first village and so a handful of dried apricots was our first breakfast …

02.07.08 Wednesday. Saint Astier to Villamblard. A thunderstorm in the night between 12 and 0230 woke all three of us, not much rain but an impressive Son et Lumiere. It also brought out the mosquitoes who were more active than us at 0630 so achieved a few bites. One even hitched with us to Villamblard …

01.07.08.Tuesday. Lisle to Saint Astier. A good day about 14 miles between 0700 and 1200 (including a welcome coffee in Mensignac) then it was too hot again. Even Geoff the lizard is perspiring somewhat. Good municipal campsite on the banks of the Isle river a tributary of De do Dronne Dronne, despite the campsite swimming …

30.06.08 Monday. Brantome to Lisle. Got up and packed up as our two families of mallard ducklings came to see us off. They still looked stuffed with bread from yesterday evening so got no more. Early start into Brantome for 0070 and breakfast. Then off up a steepish slope on to limestone uplands and then …

29.06.08 Sunday Brantome. Rest day. Contact with Geoff who has arrived in Bordeaux, he will try to catch a train to Perigueux and meet us in town this afternoon/evening. A walk to the supermarche Shopi, just out of town, for food for today and tomorrow: we were asked if we had a loyalty card, very …

28.06.08 Saturday. Chateau le Verdoyer near St Saud Lacoussiere to Brantome. For those waiting avidly for the next instalment in the chateau; sorry. We looked at the map and felt that the 28ish miles to follow the GR436 to Champangac de Belair was a bit too far for the day. So we left the campsite …

27.06.08 Friday Oradour sur Vayres to St Saud Lacoussiere. A long day we knew it would be, campsites seem few and far between in the forests on the watershed, 23 miles from 0740 to 1630. Thanks to Peter at Maison Taupe for getting up to get us started early. A good breakfast always starts the …

26.06.08 Thursday Rochechouart to Oradour sur Vayres Longish day planned and early start with no breakfast, walking at 0640 and 7 miles to St Auvent along green lanes mostly through forest, pastries and coffee at the Auberge by the church were well needed. The next 8 miles or so were road walking with the day …

25.06.08 Wednesday. Suris to Rochechouart Correction for yesterday, it was Tracie & Kieth who owned the campsite. Sorry for any confusion caused. Early start after yesterday to try to avoid the heat, walking by 0645 but no breakfast until 0900 when we reached Pressignac a nice little village with a good bakery, the French seem …

24.06.08 Tuesday. Confolens to Suris Early start, 0700 too early for the boulongerie in Confolens so walk 2 miles to Ansac sur Vienne to cross the Vienne for the last time and to get breakfast and our lunch baguette just as the bakery there opened. We are gradually ascending to the watershed with the Dordogne …

23.06.08. Monday Avrailles-Limousine to Confolens. A short day planned to allow us to get to Confolens in time for lunch, as recommended by an elderly English couple who have been touring this area for 20 years, in the Café du Gard. This is one of those French places frequented by locals, from the pompiers to …

22.06.08 SundayMoussac to Availles-Limousine, A wet night with thunderstorms still raining at start time, but will probably be hot again so better get started. Breakfast in the toilet block while packing up not on the rather nice picnic table 10 yards from our tents. Rain stops promptly as soon as we have started and got …

21.06.08 Saturday Montmorillon to Moussac. An early start this morning after being awoken by a (single) noisy lorry going past at 4:50 followed by a very local cuckoo who wished to be noticed.After breakfast from the boulangerie in the town, then up the hill and off, past the books & writing area of town (never …

20.06.08 FridaySt Savin to Montmorillon. A good easy day down tracks and roads alongside the Gartempe a nice little river about the size of the Wye at Hay but not as fast flowing. It is held back by small weirs, the site of past mills at regular intervals, and over looked by relatively small but …

19.06.08 Thursday La Roche-Posay to St Savin. A very good day, two in one, we had planned to get to St Pierre de Maille (about 12 miles) but we started early and were there feeling well by 1130 so pressed on with the help of the local paths organised by the local boroughs instead of …

18.06.08 Wednesday Le Grand Pressigny to La Roche Posay. A good days walk with little pain. Following the GRP route as this seemed more useful than the GR. Cool in morning so moving fast from an early start.. Woods and fields some deer in the forest and ? a kite in the forest. Also a …