11th July.

Going to be a long day today and unfortunately turning into a hot one. We had about 27 kilometres to walk and decided to do all of it on the GR trail as it didn't appear to be shorter on the road. Well now, I'm bloody well sure the road would have been easier. I thought at the end of the day we would have gone down hill quite a bit. We can both tell you it didn't feel like it one bit. To top it off there was a long hard uphill slog into Martel. We can put up with that, but just after you have had a long downhill slog on lose stones!!!!!!

Anyway, we got off to a good early start and even managed to have breakfast before we left. Back into town where I touched the tail of a cute cat that had came up to us. Out onto the GR and the cat is following us. What's going on? First dogs and now a cat. It's not the females of the right species that are following me this year. We figure it won't follow for long. Wrong. Two kilometres out it's still following us even after first chasing it, then throwing small road material at it and in the end big rocks.

Annette said it was my own fault for patting it on the tail. Himm, wonder if I try it on some pretty young girl tomorrow morning, will she follow me out of town? What we needed was a noisy dog and a short time later we came across this small black bundle lying on the road. We didn't know if it was a dog or a dead dog but as we got closer we could see it was just asleep in the middle of the bitumen road. Making as much noise as we could and tapping the ground with our sticks we approached and no movement. Got within a metre of it and up comes it's head and it looks towards the house then looks around and gets a hell of a fright and starts barking madly. End of the cat problem and the dog was too embarrassed to follow us. (more deaf than me) Some pretty country lanes along an old stoned road.

Past through Turenne. Looked like the chateau would have been worth a visit but we decided it would take too long and we were very tired already. View approaching it.

Stopped for lunch at Hopital St-Jean where they had a tables and chairs and a display of what looked like old walnut oil producing machines.

Bit of a varied walk today through all sorts of different landscapes. Should have had the gaiters on here in case of vipers.

Long uphill bitumen section and then we were finally in Martel. Lucky to get a site at the municipal caravan park and now hot and humid. Very hard day and both of us knocked up. A real long haul. Tent set up and showered and washing out to dry. Off in to the town and found a small supermarket and stocked up on supplies. Back to a hotel opposite the caravan park where we had dinner inside as it was just a tad cooler and the advantage of no cigarette smoke. Had a lovely simple three course meal. Watched storm clouds form on the horizon and then go away. No relief from the heat tonight. Off for another walk around town.

Back to the caravan park and a quick shower as any longer that 30 seconds the water was hot (no adjustment remember). Into the tent where it was impossible to sleep due to the heat.