That second night I spent in Frangy in a beat-up old caravan on a run-down campsite/mobile-home park. The tyres had long been punctured, the interior laminate was peeling off the chipboard fittings, and the door didn't shut - but I slept like a baby. An ancient crone of a patronne, her hair in rollers, beckoned me into her lair early next morning for coffee, croissants and a huge slice of flan. I left the unremarkable commune of Frangy in the rain, passing these colourful dwellings and gardens...
Denying myself the dubious pleasure of a visit to the 'Museum of the Cow'...
... I crossed the bridge out of town, as the downpour became even more torrential...
Here's an example of a modern, timber-built Savoyard house. Note the typical feature of the overhanging roof - important for protecting walls, doors and windows from the elements, for depositing snow away from the house, and for keeping dry the stored logs...
Once again the stormy weather gradually cleared throughout the day...
... as I made my way through a succession of small villages and isolated hamlets: Champagne, Tangy, Vannecy, Desingy, Pelly, Moucherin, Curty and Chez-Cudet. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where this is...
But I do remember that I was pleased the sun had come out at last, illuminating this pretty corner of the village of les Côtes d'en Haut...
I diverted from the main route here, taking a variant path which led steeply down to the attractive Rhône-side town of Seyssel...
10 comments:
I'm really loving this camino journey. Thankyou.
Interesting photos, Robert. I feeling like we're still walking together, and I look forward to the remainder of these postings. Where else but on a country road or path would one find a musee de la vache?
P.S. — I love the new header photo on your blog! It speaks volumes.
Once stayed in a caravan like that in Scotland. Trouble was, the place was crawling with midges. At least all the holes were covered with gaffa tape. The foam in the cushions on the settee/bed though had decayed to the point that it resembled that "oasis" stuff that flower arrangers stick their flower-stalks in. Porous and crumbly, instead of porous and bouncy.
Thanks for the giggles while eating a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast!
I can't help but feel that the allurements of the crone in curlers and the museum of the cow are as cherished as the breathtaking vistas in your memories of the camino.
Thanks, Gerry...
... and George, the thought of a cow museum was so bizarre it kept me amused for days... Thanks for your comment on the new header. Can you see the coquille St Jacques shape among the clouds and sunbeams?
Dominic! Please try the Travelodge next time!
Ruth! You are absolutely right!
This post has given me much to ponder about. You are touring in France?
The photos are so gorgeous.
Hmmmm something missing in those lovely meadow vistas...did they round up all the cows and put them in the museum??
And a second to George's comment 'bout the header...great pic!
The museum of the cow! For some reason this reminded me of Monty Python. "Fechez la vache..."
Thanks KleinsteMotte for your comment. Yes, I've been walking the Via Gebennensis from Geneva to Le Puy...
Karin - so that's where all the cows went that day! Of course! They were kidnapped (or should I say cownapped? - I think kidnapped refers to goat abduction only) and stuffed and displayed as exhibits...
I'm inevitably reminded of Joni Mitchell's lines from 'Big Yellow Taxi': 'They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum...'
Dominic - yes, so many odd things which crop up recall some Python sketch or other, don't they?
Word verification: moologes!!! (Houses for cows?)
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