August 22. Hot and sunny.
Brocante 2010, FollowTheCamino, QB on the road and more.
After a short but hilly ride on small French roads, Sunday tourists driving
a bit too fast, twice they stopped and asked me for directions; naturally I
obliged with a detailed response. Might even have been correct, arrived in
named city.
The final 1km decent was complete with parked cars in every place, spot or
not. Brocante. 2010.
This is a giant flea market. Household goods and crap. Many food vendors
with samples. Might have 7had a few and will have more while QB finishes
today's Camino here.
This is the end of the first section of the planned trip. We will stay two
days here. Time for a review of both the books and the booking company. At
least a first review.
FollowTheCamino provided me a Cycling book for the route. Outstanding.
Concise,accurate – my GPS aggrees – and reliable about routes,grades and
distances. I rip out a few pages and put them in my pocket. QB does the
same with her walking books. We have too many books along with us. My cycle
book and the local tourist offices are sufficient for me.
FollowTheCamino review: pros and cons.
First the two cons, actually mistakes that have now been, we hope,
rectified. Instructions on how to deal with our transported baggage
unknown by first hotel and info explained not sufficiently clear. The big
error was telling us to go to the wrong hotel. Calls to three hotels, a
baggege company and much confusion over where our bags went we ended up in a
good hotel.
Pros of which there are many.
Susan of FollowTheCamino has been excellent in email follow up. Very clear
and very complete. Much appreciation and cudos for excellent support.
The hotel choices have been excellent. Not always centre ville but it seems
proprietors will pick you up if well off the route. Everyone has been nice.
Almost no English in hotels or shops. I consider this a pro as it forces me
to improve my French. Not sure when we get to Spain as my Spanish is too
rudimentary to start a conversation.
A pleasant surprise. Wi-Fi access in each gitê so far. Have to ask.
Generally it is the owners private connection – as it was throughout
Germany.
One downside of the trip has been the incessant smoking of the French. They
stink and do not move to get out of the way to exhale.
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