Day 8: Montgros to Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac

~13 miles, long difficult descent

Today was a long hard day that included about 1500 ft of elevation loss on steep, rocky paths. As we descended into the valley, the temperature rose and the wide open plateau was replaced by basalt spires, green grass, and dense forest.

Before the long descent, we had an amazing lunch with a spectacular view in the town of Aubrac. A “burger” made with Aubrac beef carpaccio, a smoked trout tartine, and some aligot (a local specialty of puréed potatoes and cheese). It was one of our best meals yet!

It was bittersweet to leave the Aubrac Plateau; it is an exceptionally beautiful place, but also a challenging one. The wind and the sun were relentless and there were few places to stop and rest. However, we hope to come back here someday, as it is a truly special place.

In Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac we stayed at one of our favorite Gîtes so far, Gîte Saint Andre. The new owners were lovey and the space was very warm and welcoming. We also met the first other Americans we have encountered on the trail so far, and one was from Oregon! There was also a couple from Quebec there who we met a few days earlier and have enjoyed getting to know.

To finish off the evening, we were introduced to a French song called, “Gigi L’Amoroso,” because of our last name. Apparently French people know the song well and they all sang along while showing us the YouTube video. It was quite a moment!