Day 2: Montbonnet to Monistrol-d’Allier

~10 miles, mostly downhill (but very steep and difficult)

Todays walk was hard. We descended about 1500 feet in just a few miles; the track was near vertical and filled with rocks and roots and lined with blackberry and stinging nettle. The long decent was rough on my knees, but we went slow and managed to get down without incident. I ended up wearing my Chaco sandals the whole day, which worked well for me, but it was also dry and I had good poles. I know many people worry about footwear (including me), but at the end of the day you have to wear what works for you feet. I love my Chaco’s and shouldn’t have second guessed myself as my hiking shoes are now just extra weight.

At the Rochegude Chapel, we met a woman who said she was the artist who had made the beautiful stained glass window. It again felt serendipitous to be there at that exact moment and to encounter someone so special to this walk and place.

We met many wonderful plant and animal friends along our walk, including horses, goats, a hummingbird moth, friendly kitty cats, and endless gorgeous wildflowers.

The walk was again gorgeous and we ended in a cute village, Monistrol-d’Allier, with the Allier river running through, surrounded by vertical, tree covered columnar basalt cliffs, all visible from the second story window of our Gîte.

Dinner consisted of potato soup, stuffed zucchini, lentils, yams, and mushrooms, followed by a bread pudding for desert and of course wine. We again stayed in the same place as our new Australian friends, although after today it will be at least 12 days before we (hopefully) cross paths again. They are in their late 70s and planning to walk the full route to Santiago! I can only hope we are still walking such distances when we are their age. We do hope we get to see them again before our trip is over.