Staying in a B&B only, so I have just returned from dinner at a small restaurant here in Limogne. Joined a couple from Seattle, it is only the 3rd time to have a meal whilst speaking English! It's their second Camino, the first four years ago and about the same time as mine?

The photos taken on Monday the 18th say it all- rained most of the day, persistent and soaking-oil-skin over trousers and jacket until early arvo, then took off jacket, 15 mins later it poured! Arrived soaked, at about 2.30pm ready for a hot shower- sadly stayed soaked until 5.30pm, when my bag arrived 2 hours late. As I will remain in Europe after the walk (a month's retreat at our house in La Nelyiere, near Lyon), I have a suitcase, plus my backpack, which I carry each day. The suitcase is picked up and delivered to the next place of stay, which is usually very efficient but not that day.

Anyhow, why, do you legitimately ask, do I bore you with such trivia?

The following day, now yesterday the 19th Sept, dawned misty, but rain unlikely and I expected a relative short and less demanding jaunt through the countryside to Limogne.

I was making good progress, came across yet another intriguing old water pump- this one with two spouts one on the right to direct water to the trough for the animals and the other for the folk of the village- very communal indeed. If you looked at the photos you may recall that I asked if you could identify the difference between two photos of the same pump taken from the same place. There is an answer not immediately obvious. Yes, it's to do with again taking a wrong turn. Shortly after the photo there was a written sign (rare in these parts) indicating "Limogne 6 Ks". I proceeded with joy, hoping to reach my destination just about lunch time. The little red and white indicators to show the way became less frequent and some were faded or obscured and eventually disappeared. Question- do I press on and hope for the best or retrace my hard-won steps? Press on! As time passed I sensed it was the wrong decision- up until that point not a soul to be seen. Voila! A person just emerging from his house and with some English and better hand gestures indicated that all was not lost. So, with a renewed spring in my step I continued.

Finally, as I rounded a bend I had the feeling that I had seen this place before and only quite recently, like about just over an hour ago. Yes, there was the pump, hence the second photo to prove that I had just completed the round trip of 5ks - just over an hour and had not retraced my steps- but to use the skiing phrase I was well and truly off-piste. (According to the dictionary it is an adjective and adverb meaning: so as to deviate from what is conventional, usual or expected) so I was really off-piste. And to add to my frustration the sign indicating Limogne 6ks was still there.

There is good news. During the course of my dinner conversation with Sue and Dirk I discovered that the like many others had made similar mistakes and as recently as yesterday. So, there is some excuse for me being off-piste.

I have a little more to say about the Signs, but for now

Cheers

Jim

[Note from Jo - Jim has recorded his first video blog! You will find it under the "Videos" tab near the top of this page.]