2017-09-16 Ferme les Gentianes - Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac (29/143 km)

Sunrise over Aubrac

Aubrac landscape

After a fine sunrise it became a grey day. The landscape rolled on while I walked  on.

Pilgrims and cows

Turkey pilgrims

Entering a small village I encountered some unusual pilgrims - turkeys.

And later on after Nasbinals I found to my surprise that the ski station nearby was open. A bit confused I did look for my skis but found only one pole in my backpack. But on the other hand I didn't find any snow either. So, well, interesting info!

Aubrac - young Finn at high point

Aubrac - church interior

To ski or not to ski...

Aubrac - church & defence tower

Not far after that I passed several groups of people. I saw one young lady who had a german backpack and asked if she spoke any other language but french. And yes, she was from Austria and spoke both German and English. When I told her that I was Swedish she pointed at a young man and said that he is Finnish. So that guy and I spent the next hour talking while walking. He was from Helsinki and worked as a software programmer but also a musician in. A good combination. Together we passed the high point of Via Podiensis at 1.369 m.

Donkey pilgrims

Down from Aubrac highlands

Basalt volcano core

A few hundred meters after the high point you find the village of Aubrac. Originally built by the monk-knights of the order of Hospitalier to defend pilgrims that were often plundered and sometimes beheaded up her in the Aubrac wilderness. They build a church, a monastery and a pilgrim hospital, in the old sense of the word, i.e. a gite or albergue in today's language. There I left my Finish friend without even knowing his name. He sat waiting for his fiend from Austria, while had a small lunch before continuing. I met some donkeys instead.

Down, down along stony and steep tracks before reaching Saint Chély. Passed an old, 8 million years old remainder of a volcano. Only the center basalt portion remains while the rest has ben eroded away. Like in so may places up here not least Le Puy.

Continuaba pasando la meseta francesa, Aubrac. Fuera el pueblo Nasbinals encontré un grupo de gente. Cuando pregunté que lenguas ellos hablaban descubrí asistido de una mujer de Austria un hombre de Finlandia. Nosotros charlaban de una hora de las experiencias del camino de Le Puy. ¡Interesante! Pasábamos juntos el paso de Aubrac de 1.369 m. Después descubrí la aldea Aubrac con su historia de los caballeros-monjes Hospitalarios.