Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025
Day: 18
From: Lauzerte To: Moissac
Start Walking: 714am End Walking: 331pm
Time: 7h15m
Distance (Planned): 27.8km Distance (Garmin): 28.8km
Progress: 448.9/765km
Ascent: 606m Descent: 698m
Weather: Not a cloud in the sky and hot!
Stayed At: Gite l’Etoiles
General Comments:
• I did it hard today. Sometimes I feel ’10 foot tall and bulletproof’ out on the trail and other days it can be like pulling teeth or walking through wet cement. Today was one of those days.
• I’m not sure why that was the case as the scenery was just as beautiful and interesting, and the company was the same although he did listen to the footy on the radio for much of the walk! That just shows you what a scintillating conversationalist I am! 🤣
• It was a bit sad to leave Lauzerte as I really liked the Gite owners, especially Orla who originates from Ireland. She and her French husband only took over the Gite on 1 March and it has been a baptism of fire since then with a full house every night. I do admire people who are having a crack and trying to make a go of something.
• So, there were a few lingering last looks and last photos before we headed in the forest and up yet another bloody great hill! Yep, still no flat terrain yet!
• The trail took us up and down hills all day, all the while surrounded by farms, orchards and more farms. There was always something to see in absolutely every direction.
• There were also people in every direction which surprised me. I understood that the number of hikers would start to reduce soon and perhaps they will as I have spoken to some people finishing here in Moissac and many others in Condom (Yes, that name again). Time will tell.
Top Tips:
• Make sure you carry plenty of water on this stage as there is nothing available after the 12km mark.
• Moissac is not my favorite place. It has a bit of a rough and ready feel to it with a lot of sleazy types loitering on corners. Maybe I am completely misreading their intentions and have misunderstood the place’s vibe. You can’t win ‘em all.
Bon Chemin.
Life...one big adventure 
Yes, it must be hard to get through one of those harder mental days, digging deep into the resilience reservoir. You’re both doing so well. Lauzerte looks amazing compared to my memories of Moissac. So many displaced people in Europe wandering about, though not counting the ones that do it by choice 😉 xx
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Yes, we have noticed that too. Seems to be an increasing number of beggars and displaced people, as you say. I was bit surprised to see that in these rural areas, but maybe that is Government policy to integrate people as quickly as possible. Who knows?
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What a beautiful artichoke! I remember eating a lot of those when I studied abroad in France in college. My host mother loved them.
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I haven’t eaten a lot of fresh ones, but I do love the sculptural quality of them. Like mini art works. 🙃
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great photos. for the short story.. 2017 and 2019 we walked this section and both time we got rain !! unforgettable stage for me! ;-(
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You just have to keep pushing on, don’t you? Hopefully the rain will hold off for us today.
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