Page 21 - Walking Back Through Time

The rain becomes heavy – not boding well for camping tonight and a further 10km to Belleme proves enduring as I search out a grocers shop to buy some supper. The proprietor is very kind and helpful explaining she can find me shelter. She warms me up with a drink and contacts the local priest to obtain a place to stay at the church lodge. He turns up about 9pm and guides me to the church which is only a few meters from the shop. The shelter inside the church is designed for homeless travel- lers who need a temporary stay and is the perfect refuge for a man of the road! I feel lucky to have the use of a shower and a bed for the night thanks to the kindness of these lovely people whom I’d only just met!
Day 11 Belleme to Le Mans - 54km
Rising early I set off from the shelter around 8am, taking a few photos before leaving town. At least I am dry though my knee hurts due to a heavy load of wet gear in my rucksack– weighing about 70lbs in all.
My first village of the day is a place called Ige and from here I press on to a supermarket where I buy my lunch. Large stores in France close at noon on Sunday, yet there is no panic and folk are friendly as I chat with the young maid on the checkout who is also fluent in English. Whilst eating my food the shop closes and the maid comes over to wish me well as I go on to explain that I intend to walk the rest of Northern France. A further 11km sees me to Bonne Table – now only 30km from Le Mans! The afternoon passes quickly amid warm weather though traf- fic hinders my progress 10km from Le Mans. Unable to find any facili- ties I press on into town eventually stopping at the only bar that is open on a Sunday night. Here the locals welcome me and praise my efforts. The landlady serves cheese with bread and the girls I meet buy me drinks. Later one lady called Laelilia shows me a safe place to camp and writes down her address so that I can visit for a shower and breakfast in the morning – all in all it is a good end to the day.