DAY TWENTYNINE
CHÂTEAU PUY-FERRAT – MUSSIDAN
For the one who has completed the journey
and sorrowless,
liberated from all,
For the one who has discarded all fetters,
burning tortures occur no more
Dhammapada
Before I left Puy-Ferrat the next morning, a group of French pilgrims were singing
pilgrim’s song in the breakfast room of the Château. It was a nice start of the day.
By walking through a Hameau -a small village – I met a very nice woman and had a
chat with her.
Soon after that meeting, I began a long, long walk through a huge forest area.
The way was marked badly and sometimes there was no sign of the shell visible for
long stretches. Nobody was around to ask if the way was correct. It was an
exhausting hike.
Taking a rest on a hunter’s high seat
In the village of Sourzac, I visited an exhibition of ecclesiastical, liturgical robes for
Catholic priests. A local woman, who once worked for a famous fashion house in
Paris, renovated these dalmatics.
View of the village Sourzac from the town Saint-Louis–en-I’sle
Exhibition of Dalmatics
When I arrived in the town Mussidan – after having been nine hours on the road –
the refuge was closed and nobody answered the phone. I had to stay in a hotel, the
Grand hotel of the town. When I entered the hotel, a soccer game was broadcasted
with overloud speakers; only one guest watched the game. I was the only guest who
stayed overnight. It was the first time that I felt lonely on my pilgrimage. I missed
the warm welcome of the hospitaliérs, the volunteers of the refuges, and the whole
spirit of the Way. But the nice dinner I prepared for myself – avocado, baguette,
cheese and a tartelette aux fraises (a strawberry cake) – was a real treat.
– Text and photos contributed by Garyo –