Last night I had the gîte, Ferme équestre d’En Goût to myself or so I thought. While eating a warmed up pre-prepared supermarket dinner a few people came into the gîte asking if this was where the meeting was taking place, I sent them to the main house. Then while still having my dinner around twenty people turned up and announced they would be having their meeting around the ample dining room table in the gîte. I did not mind at all however the sleeping quarters is right above the dining room. Anyhow not too happy I gathered my things and went upstairs. Having slept badly the night before in Castres in a bed that was way too small for me I got into bed at 21:30. At 22:30 they were still prattling directly below. I went down to complain but they were unsympathetic. Eventually around 23:45 they left me in pace. Getting a good night’s sleep has often been difficult, as every night is in a new environment.

The morning mist blanketed the landscape, the air was fresh and cool. Gradually the mist dissolved and a glorious day ensued. The paths and tracks today had many stretches along tarred roads but there were also quiet roads with only an occasional car passing. I came across a couple hiking in the opposite direction we stopped and chatted for awhile. They were brother and sister, very friendly and gave me advice to go to the camping site in Revel which I did as I had no response from the municipal Gîte after leaving a telephone message. I stocked up on supplies in the delightful village of Soreze. Parma ham, tomatoes and bread for lunch, a pre-prepared Tanjine meal for dinner as well as yoghurt and fruit for tomorrow’s breakfast. I arrived at the campsite at 14:30 and was shown a dormitory that sleeps sixteen but I am the only guest.

On my way to Revel the next morning I greeted a gentleman cutting his hedge he gave a cheerful response and remarked what a beautiful day it was for walking, I agreed with him wholeheartedly and he went on to ask me if I knew the area at all. No I said, “Not at all, it is the very firt time I am passing through”. He volunteered to tell me a story about the history of the Canal du Midi which was very interesting. About ten minutes into his story I took off my backpack to listen more comfortably. When he had finished telling the story and about to go onto to the next one his wife came out saying he had a phone call which spared me the inconvenience of having to cut him short. As he departed he suggested I read, La Génie du L’eau by Paul Riquet-the story of the Canal du Midi.

I arrive in Revel the early afternoon so I can take my time showering washing my undies and socks, plan my next day’s trajectory and do some writing. I have been considering another way of saying babbling brook or gurgling stream, because the sounds of a cascading stream is so musical, enchanting and soothing. Perhaps a way to describe it would be a tranquinkiling stream because the sound is kind of a tranquil twinkling .

• Camino