A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Friday, 7 October 2011

Cows, Boots And Cheese

Cows are curious animals, in both senses. I like them very much...




Here a solitary young heifer eyes up a Solitary Walker...




I soon approached this renovated chapel near the small village of Vernières...




... and here's a delightful cottage-corner of the village. Can you spot the Solitary Walker's reflection in the window?




Note the pilgrim boots...




Passing another old, stone cross...




... I gazed back on more stunning views...




The trees looked magnificent in the warm sunshine...




... and the scenery just got better and better...




Eventually I arrived at the gîte in Beaumont, an old artisan cheese-maker's house with a spanking new roof (just as well, for there was a storm in the night, with much rain, thunder and lightning)...




This is the walkway into the gîte. Lovely, don't you think? Note the coquilles. I hung up my washing there later...




This was the end of only my first day on this glorious Chemin, and I'd already seen so much...

10 comments:

George said...

Magnificent! What great weather you had for the first day. Keep those photos coming our way.

ksam said...

Wow! Or perhaps more appropriately...holy cow? Great pics, and that chapel is amazing...I'd love to move right in!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Beautiful scenery - fantastic weather by the look of it and wonderful shadows on that decking in the last photo Robert.

Kiwi Nomad said...

I love taking photos of cows as well- they do tend to stand at stare at the camera, as if wondering what malevolent intent stands in front of them. (Whereas horses are usually much more used to people, and are more likely to resume eating grass...)
Your photos are just wonderful. I love the one with the hills and the forest, I travelled once by train out of Geneva into France, and the wildness of the trees is one thing I remember. I am sure I will go back one day to walk there!

The Solitary Walker said...

George - a couple of days of rain after that, but the rest of the Camino was undiluted sunlight! Aah.. j'aime le soleil...

Karin - just love your enthusiastic response, as always...

Pat - the weather was perfect...

Margaret - yes, horses tend either to ignore you or gallivant after you - no half measures - while cows are placidly curious. Just walk this route as soon as you can - I know you will love it!

Ruth said...

Simply gorgeous! The fields, the vistas, the cows, the chapel, the balcony, flowers, thunderstorm and then sunshine! Ahhhh.

Anonymous said...

Great photos, SW. Looks sensational. All I've seen of European cows were the ones in central Switzerland, and they were suitably adorable. Loved descending from the mountains on a hike and passing through the farms with all the cows - and even the goats! - jingling and jangling.

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks, Ruth. And Goat - yes, I did see a few goats too!

Cris M said...

Hi! This have been your first day and has been for me the day I arrived to Santiago through the Camino Francés.
I will visit your blog later for sure!!!
Buen Camino!

Kindly,
Cris M

The Solitary Walker said...

Hi Cris M! Thanks for your comment, and visiting your blog too... Buen Camino.