My goal was to walk the 26 km (16+ mi), but since I had a tight window in which to catch the train back to Vendome, I opted to walk the same distance but in a big loop to a closer town (Saint-Amand-de-Vendôme). I passed picturesque little villages. And, being Sunday, the stores were open until noon, very different from Poland and Germany. Four points to make:
First, a picture of my lovely host family, with one member absent, the oldest daughter, Marylou; on the photo are Alice, Samuel, Eliot, and Romane.
Secondly, and barely out of Vendome, I ran into a French-American memorial that takes us back to the Revolutionary War. Native Son Rochambeau along with a French Expeditionary Force were sent by French King Louis XVI to help Gen Washington.The rest is history!
The third is life-saving advice from Pierre in Paris: "if you ever need water in France, go to the nearest cemetery." Today I needed some, and in a small town with a tiny cemetery, I found a spigot with cool water--a life saver! Thank you Pierre.
Fourth was most unusual. The local St Jacques Chemin (Camino) coordinator and his wife happened by and stopped the car on the road after they recognized my shell. We talked for 10 or so minutes and they gave me some helpful hints for lodging, as did Alice when I returned.
