Day 44-45

Day 44-Mon 7/7-Grossouvre to Augy-sur-Aubois- 18+kms
We again set off in light rain, Salome, JP & me. It is cold this morning, which we had not expected. We buy pastries in the boulangerie at Grossouvre, where the church has a Spanish style bell tower. We take the wet, grassy path alongside the canal, slippery in places. We meet a farmer herding his cattle into a truck so we wait while they go past on the road & across a bridge over the canal. Our pavement weary feet are grateful for the respite from bitumen and asphalt. We stop for coffee in a bar, outside Sancours, alongside the canal which we have been following all day. Salome makes a phone call and finds out she has passed her barrister exams, which makes her very happy. We continue for the next 9kms along the canal du Berry, past the colonnade of grand old plane trees and fields with cattle & sheep. We cross a bridge, then up a small rise, as we leave the canal to come to the small village of Augy-sur-Aubois. Turn right at the 1664 cross, before entering the village, to reach the Pilgrim Refuge, Nos Repos. Here we are welcomed by 2 hospitaleros, one from Belgium & 1 from Holland. It us a lovely refuge with all necessities. The wifi only works outside, so although it has stopped raining it is not warm. JP & I go down to the village for dinner, a real rural Fench meal. Delicious.

Day 45- Augy to Charenton-du-Cher. 24kms
JP goes to the village for bread & cheese for our breakfast and lunch. We start off in sunshine, left then right, then left then right until we are back at the Canal du Berry. We follow this the whole day again. We pass many locks, crossing at some of them, sometimes in short grass, sometimes in long wet grass. Raining again. The lock houses are rather pretty & although the canal & it's locks seem to need repair, most of the houses are beautifully kept. We follow a red gravel path down a promenade before turning left then right into Rue Chateau de la Grave. At number 9 we find Madame Mativo in the manoir. The weather is still wet & rather depressing. Inside the manor house is rather dilapidated but we are all allocated a room each which is a definite luxury. After a quick trip to the bar we get time for a pre-dinner nap. Another pilgrim, Suzette from Corsica, is also here making us 4 pilgrims altogether. We enjoy our evening meal around the dining table with our hostess.