21^st Day 2018 Marciac to Auch

            I will be meeting Isabelle and Marie-Line on Thursday around noon in Moissac.  With luck I should be there by early afternoon.

            By morning I was warming to this place.  No creatures emerged from the pond.  “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” was one of two horrors films I attended.  The other was “The House of Wax” with Vincent Price.  Both gave me nightmares for weeks and increased my bedwetting ten fold.  My Mom finally drew the line and I totally agreed.  It was either agree or the orphanage. One of the problems was we were living in a two bedroom house and my brother and I slept in the basement.  The switch for the only light was at the top of the stairs.  I had to hurry through a gauntlet of imagined dangers as sped through the darkness, down the stairs, and under the covers.

            There were lily pads at one edge and the purple fuscias and golden blossoms added color.  Maybe there would be enough inspiration for Monet.  The complex is early hodge-podge with inspiration from Sarah Winchester.  There was an off beat charm to the whole.  I would have stayed another night is the biggest compliment. 

            The Giant must have sprouted extra fingers today, up and down and across the rivers in between.  I chewed up the first battery by midday.  I was able to recharge it 50% during my lunch break in Montesquiou.

            As Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”  I started to recognize towns from my journey to Lourdes three years ago.  I was going in the other direction.  I cannot believe that I did these hills three years ago without electricity.  My dropoff in conditioning has been astounding!

            One location, the Isle de Noe, evoked a particularly strong emotional response.  I was desperately looking for a campground at the end of the day.  I was even considering rough camping on the edge of the town near the river.  Then this jewel appeared on the other side of town.  No one was around except two elderly ladies sitting near the shelter.  They did not seem to mind when I set up camp.  There was electricity and hot water for a shower.  And no one ever came by to collect a fee.

            According to a poster, the town had its beginnings in the 12^th century.  The name has changed several times depending on the ownership of the chateau.

            Auch is a large town with a busy downtown compound by street repair.  Hot and tired with temperatures in the mid 90’s,  I made a crucial mistake in judgment.   I ignored by instinct to find the tourist office and instead followed a sign indicating camping.  In France, the sign for camping could mean near or far.  Double whammy I rode down a steep descent from the center of town. 

            I soon realized my mistake.  Biting the bullet I turned around and headed back to the center.  Unfortunately, the battery chose to die and I had to walk up that very steep incline.  I found the tourist office easily enough with an assist from the clerk in the mayor’s office.  She even filled my water bottle.  I am racking up more assists than Stefan Curry.

            In the tourist office I had to deal with beginner, good, and well trained.  The first had me cycling another 18 km.  The second cut that down to 13 km.  And then the chief, to the embarrassment of the first two showed a campground just outside of Auch.  Ouch!

            The campground had a steep rise forcing another walk up. With no one at reception I ventured out to try to locate camping from a posted diagram.  Another walk up!  At the very top, I found myself on private land or so I was informed by the lady of the manor who treated me as if I was Attila the Hun.

            Back at the reception the lady manager came by, collected the fee of 10 euros, under the table.  I asked her about a market nearby.  She offered to do dinner at the bed and breakfast component of the park.  I met her son Florian who agreed to put something together in about two hours.  Perfect!  And then offered some cold drinks.  I took two, an Orangina and a Lipton tea.  Both were like nectar to the gods.

            After setting up camp, taking a shower, and a short rest I headed back to dinner.  The ground was so hard I had to find a rock to pound in the stakes.

            Dinner was delicious, a pork lentil hot dish, a yogurt, apple sauce, beer, wine, a half loaf of bread, and a pitcher of ice water.  Florian also turned on the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria.  I was able to see a fabulous goal by Messi.

Happy trails to you until we meet again!

Much joy!!

Hardy