2017-04-25 Papeterie (close to Tence) - St-Julien-Chapeteuil (30 / 456 km)

After breakfast in the old paper mill we soon walked into Tence. There it was a market day with boots and stands everywhere. Robert bought a knitted cap.

Then I tried to trace the way out of town and searched for markings. I thought that I had found it. (When I looked at the map a bit more carefully it was actually the old routing of the GR coming in to town !!!!) But happily I asked a elderly gentleman from the city. He said in good English that we were heading in the wrong direction and that he should show us the right exit. Really one of those Santiago persons at the right time and place! I have often wondered why that often happens when needed. I remember one time at another walk when even I was that person to guide a couple that later became friends.

Rain and rain clothes. After a while I realized that my big rain poncho worked well.

We had coffee for lunch in St-Jeures before we continued towards the highest pass at 1261 m in Raffy. The rain had then eased so there was a fantastic view over this remarkable volcanic landscape. Ava had wanted to walk alone for a while. The remaining three of us sat waiting for her in Queyrières, but no one came. Ahigh place that obviously had snow during the winter sason since the sings told us that there was a center for Nordic skiing in Meygal nearby.

We decided to split and I walked in advance down the hills.

When passing through the village of Monedeyeres a couple of kilometers later I heard from behind a corner someone calling my name. Ava! She had been taking a short cut and arrived only a couple of minutes earlier. Good old Santiago had once again fixed the situation for us. We called the others so that they could stop waiting and continue.

Went through a very fine valley with among other tings an old mill. Crossed a stream and then up and on following other narrow trails that eventually became narrow roads that finally became St-Julien-Chapteui.

Having almost reached the center the other caught up with us. We arrived at the Gite in the center of the city. Locked! We had to walk to a camping site a bit outside the city and got the key from a not-so-happy lady.

We found our beds and a bit later, went out to find a place to eat. It took some time since most places were closed. It was a snack-bar with food prepared in the micro. Not the best in the world but possible to eat. The locals had a difficult dialect and we wondered what type of people that beside us came to the bar that night. Back to the Gite through silent and dark streets.

En la mañana entramos Tence y un mercado la con muchas puestas. Robert se compró un gorro. Cuando probé, probamos trovar la salida de la ciudad otro Santiago un viejo hombre que nos dirigí hasta la salida correcta. Pasamos Raffy, el paso más alto 1261 m. Un poco más tarde estábamos esperando Ava en Queyrières. Decidimos dividirnos. Yo continué. Cuando pasaba una esquina oí mi nombre. ¡Ava! Ella había elegido una otra senda. Todos entrabamos St-Julien-Chapteui una hora más tarde.