La Bastide. —  Chasserades.

The night had been stormy and wet.Several of our companions from the last few days were leaving us today on a tighter schedule. At breakfast we said our adieu. Time was spent in the pharmacy choosing a protective cover for my left little toe which had erupted a painful blister at its end. Photos are too gruesome for public view. I suspect my gait has altered to avoid putting pressure on my troublesome big toe. Eventually after another coffee in another bar we set off up a lane out of the village. Sandy tracks through trees took us up to plateau at 1400m. The rain had eased but there were no views in the mist, hence the lack of pictures. Out of the clouds lunch, the usual baguette and tomato, was taken in a dry woodshed in a virtually deserted village. Disappointing road walking past uninspiring holiday homes brought us into the few scattered houses that make up Chasserades just as our chambre d’hote opened its doors. We were glad to be safely in as the evenings torrential rain started and continued. Pre dinner fizz to celebrate H’s birthday led to another convivial evening with our new companions, two delightful French couples who had started at La Bastide to complete the walk they commenced last year.