Long walks or short walks

The weather wasn't as good today and in fact the top of Mont Sant Cyr could not be seen and apparently if that happens, local folklore says you shouldn't go out. Well, we were only there for a few days so there was going to be no sitting and waiting.

After Geraldine's fall, she was a little stiff and as Kathy had done around 9 miles which was her first long walk since her broken knee had mended I advised that they have an easier day and Marina and Chris decided to join them. Janice had mentioned a coffee shop in Dompierre so they decided to walk there, have coffee and walk back. Meanwhile, Teresa, Paula, Gemma, Lindsey and I decided to venture further afield and planned a day long walk.

Leaving Les Ceresiers, we turned right and then a few yards down the road took another right up a track which leads up behind the house climbing slightly in the trees. It was a little drizzly but not unpleasant and soon we came onto the GR7 one of France's long distance walks. At one point the path we were on runs parallel with the D41, the main road to Dompierre so we were delighted to hear and then meet up with the others for at least 10 yards then we parted company again probably wishing we were heading for coffee too.

Soon however the drizzle stopped and we found ourselves walking through forests on the very boundary of this region.

At the Col des Vaux, we crossed over the N79 and soon after started to look for a place for lunch finding a great spot on the edge of the forest where we could tuck into Janice's home made rolls.

Lindsey and Gemma enjoy lunch

After lunch we headed for Trivy where we had some decisions to make about the way back as to what route we should take. We had been hoping to find water and a loo in Trivy but none were available and neither was there a cafe open or even a tabac. We could see Dompierre-Les-Ormes in the distance and knowing there was a cafe there we headed south on a fairly direct route which took us under the N79 this time and then along the main road for a little while before one of my favourite parts of the walk although it was nearly all up hill.

The track brought us in at the lower end of the town and we stopped at the church first then out of town towards the Arboretum which was the same direction as refreshment. Threatening rain meant we ran the last part of the way only to be met by a closed sign on the coffee shop door, we just couldn't believe it and it did cause great disappointment. All we really wanted now was to get back to the house as quickly as possible and to have showers and relax.