~11 miles, steep hills, lots of sun, beautiful scenery
Wow! The Célé Valley is spectacular! Steep limestone cliffs covered in oak groves and wildflowers. The walk was again very challenging and VERY hot, with little shade throughout the day. I used my umbrella for shade and was so grateful to have it as I walked in the hot afternoon sun. We only encountered 2 or 3 other people walking and found the trail to not always be clearly marked. The Célé variant feels much more remote and wild than the GR65, but that also seems to be what makes it so special.
We walked past tiny towns with houses and ancient ruins built into the sides of cliffs; places where people were and are one with the landscape in a way that’s hard to imagine in today’s world. Our day ended in Marchilhac-sur-Célé where a Roman Abbey built between the 9th and 11th centuries sat at the center of town.
Our Gîte for the night was Gîte de Galance. It was fairly large, but there were only 9 people staying the night and we had a private room. It was a very nice place with wonderful hosts. Dinner was Tortilla (egg casserole), salad, melon with prosciutto, and strawberries with fromage blanc for dessert. Our friends from Quebec also stayed the night, so we got to spend more time with them which was lovely!
This was one of our favorite days on our walk so far, despite (or maybe because of) the heat and challenging terrain. It felt like a huge accomplishment and something I didn’t think I was really capable of doing before I tried. This adventure has pushed me to my limits, but I’m proud of myself for making it each day and having this unbelievable experience. Walking is such a magical way to get to know a place and I’m endlessly grateful to be here!
It Could Be Sunshine 
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