17 feb

The third time I should have figured it out – Following the Grande Randonnee 36 (GR 36) to Brantome that is. I lost the path on both of my two earlier attempts. The second time it even happened walking together with Ronald. While we were both extremely aware of the challenge ahead. We said to each other that “if you do not see the sign – a red line above a white line – you know you are lost and have to go back to wherever you saw the last sign.” It didn’t help. We got lost again. My fault of course. The more detailed the map, the easier it is to convince you that there should be a house where you expect one, or a little pond, or a road to the right.
But you don’t get fooled three times, right. It was meant as kind of a confidence builder, the walk today. Next week the journey to Santiago will start. Today is my last full day at Chassenat. Tomorrow i’ll drive the Berlingo to Holland, visit relatives and will fly back to Bergerac on friday. Julie will pick me up. Friday will be the last night in heaven, as we consider Chassenat. From saturday it will be back to Merlin again.
Had a little test drive today, just to see how Merlin had managed the inactivity of the past 6 weeks. Started of like a charm. Julie and I both had to laugh.
But then I went on to Brantome. It was a beautiful day. Spring has arrived in the Perigord. The bushes were buttoning, the birds chattering and I saw the first butterflies, including some lemonyellow ones.
And then there is this walk to Brantome. It really shouldn’t be that difficult. It’s a little more than 10 miles. But these darn French really need a serious lesson about giving clues on these trips. It seems like they are doing everything to make it complicated for you to follow the right route.
What about this one! I’ll tell you, there is a sign about directions hidden somewhere.

Ok, I’ll help you, the 2 Brantome sign has been taped over it.
Right, this is ridiculous. I ended up again in St Julien de Bourdeilles. A lovely name and quite a nice village, except it is not on the GR36. In fact I had ended up in the same village on my first walk, although I got there a little more efficiently this time. Then found my way back to the GR36 and didn’t get lost again. Was attacked by a dog though. His teenager boss and her boyfriend were kissing passionately in the middle of a field next to the footpath – spring is in the air – and the dog tried to pass his time by trying to bite in my calf. It is good that I have a stick with me. And a good looking stick too. I put some linseed oil on it this morning. Looks quite classy.
Finally arrived in Brantome where the bar that Julie and I were going to have a drink was closed, just like most of the rest of the town.
The best news of the day is that the boulangerie will reopen on friday. Just in time for us to get one more galette. Can’t hardly wait, mostly of course for our last porcelain little puppet.
But the real story is that while trying to find your way, you’ll lose it. But then there is marvellous Merlin. He’ll help us to stay on track, we hope.