On day three Roland had to return home and left me in France. I continued my trek in direction of Contrexeville, close to where the famous french table water Vittel comes from. It was a torching hot day with little shadow and 36 kilometres ahead, leading me to stretching the borders of my mental and physical abilities.
Found a private castle with pretty french vintage cars lined up
Arrived at a beautiful B&B in Contrexeville and a Pizza place at the spa.
Day four had a forest hike, a trail that wasn't and a creepy place in store for me.
If it weren't for the way markers...
Halfway (view) point, just another 15 klicks to go.
Arrival at Bourbonne, found a nice affordable hotel and served myself typical french food for dinner: cheese, sausage, olives, baguette and fruit with a glass of wine.
On day five I asked myself: Why am I doing this? A hot walk mostly on tarmac. But the people in this region are awesome. Got a lot of motivational words, fruit and refreshments without even asking for it.
I can see my finish line. On top of the hill lies the village of Varennes sur Amance where I will stay in a hospice dedicated to pilgrims. They don't charge for the night but a donation is expected. I was welcomed with homemade apple juice.
Dinner and breakfast:
Day six: Just another 30 klicks to go... along big and small places of worship, fields and meadows, roads and forest trails.
There is a trail... somewhere in there
Fountain and 'laundromat'
Lake / reservoir Liez managing the water levels of the water channel of the rivers Marne and Saone, a very advanced technology and architectural wonder from the 18th and 19th century building a waterway between Paris and the Mediterranean Sea.
At the crossroads of the Via Francigena to Rome and The Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela in Langres, my terminus for this section hike.
Langres in sight
Lake Liez - now in the far, it had been a long way up...
The city of Langres, founded by a Gallo-Roman tribe around the 1st century, and crossroads of twelve Roman roads had been a prospering center of religious movement in the middle ages.
Another hospice for a donation and a usual french style meal.
180 kilometers in 6 days is not too shabby given that I had a bum knee, now on my way home on day seven, a 9 hour train ride with 5 changeovers.
My way of St. James until now:
