Camino Stage 1 - Day 5

 Day 5: L'Omnie (Couy) - Bourges 22kms

Too cold for the daisies to open!

The day dawned grey and distinctly chilly, with the potential for rain. I breakfasted and said my goodbyes. I headed off in a novel variation of the official route of my own devising, despite yesterday's challenges. Halfway though my shortcut I ran into a friendly farmer who asked me what I was doing and where I was going. I said that I was going to Baugy. He told me the road was in the other direction. I told him I knew, but I wanted to go across the fields. He looked at me as if I was mad and gave me a classic Gallic shrug.

I wondered if I had made a mistake. But though it was quite damp in parts I made it through fine. But it must but be said that by now it was very grey and the wind was blowing cold from the East. I was very chilly even with three layers on.

Baugy had a nice cafe. It was too cold to sit outside. On to Villabon and an excellent lunch for less than €20, including a beer and then wine. This just just left the leg to the main road near Brécy. This was dead straight through forest with no complications for me in my post-lunch haze.

I note the kindness of French motorists. Where road walking is required I walk on the left, facing the on-coming traffic. Because the roads in the Berry are fairly straight, motorists can see you from good way off. What was interesting to was the very high percentage who indicated left, and pulled right over to the other side of the road. I should estimate between 60-70%. All that indicating was a way of letting me know that they had seen me, but I was very appreciative all the same.

Central doorway of St Stephen's Cathedral

I had decided yesterday to try and hitch a lift for the remaining 5 kms to Bourges. You never know how that will work out. Today I only had to wait five minutes and a very kind retired air force man picked me up dropped me on the outskirts. I got my glasses fixed at an opticians, and the found the bus to the town centre.

Bourges is a beautiful city. Tomorrow is my rest day, so I shall look properly at some of its delights, without a heavy rucksack on my back. My lodgings are only ten minutes from the Cathedral, so I am close to the historic centre.

Palais Jacques Coeur