Camino Stage 1 - Day 8.2

 Day 8: Chârost - Neuvy-Pailloux 18 kms

A hotter day, but with a cooling wind. Much more off-road walking. Very pleasant. Lunch in Issoudun.

Issoudun has lots of industry on its outskirts, and lots of retail businesses on its edge, but the impact on the town centre has been terrible. Shop after shop closed down, all looking dusty and abandoned, as if there is no hope of anything opening, let alone thriving. It can't but be rather dispiriting to the natives, but perhaps they don't notice it.

By 2pm I realised I was really tired, and decided to see if I could cut a few kms with a bus. There was one to fairly near where I was staying, so I sat and waited. Along it came. The driver asked each of the little queue where we were headed and then just waved us all abound for free - she had no ticket machine! French rural public transport is a mystery to me.

I found my lodgings with Nädine and Jean-François. There was a splendid neighbourhood lunch going on.

Les voisins se reunissent chez les Puches

Also staying are two other pilgrims, Josef and Jean, from Bruges. They started from there and have been working their way south in stages every six months. Jean has almost no effective sight, and Josef is his guide. Josef himself has quite a serious speech impediment that makes it a challenge to understand what he is saying. I was very struck by the determination of these two men in undertaking this pilgrimage.

Tomorrow is my last walking day, and, if I'm spared I will get to Chateauroux. I am really pleased with how well my feet have coped, and my back positively likes walking. Early to bed, as I want to be on top form for tomorrow!