On finishing 200 miles! Did we do it? Hike, yeah we did! (Ok that was corny)

Here is Scott at mile 200. We were about 5 miles outside of Cahors, where Scott ended his trek 2 hours ago. We’ve had a really amazing time and great luck with the weather. Of the 16 hiking days we had 6 that were 15+ miles and the longest was an 18 miler. We’ve covered 205 miles and 18 cities/communes/towns/villages in France! We’ve met lovely people, had lovely food and wine and climbed some insane hills.

While I love the milestone and making it to 200, I’m also feeling a little gloomy because it means that Scott heads home and I trek on. It will take a day or 2 for me to get into my solo mindset. It becomes a different kind of camino now.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, I expect that until the Le Puy route merges with Camino Frances in St Jean Pied de Port I will be walking alone a lot of the time. And I suspect that there will be days I don’t see another person on the trail. But that’s ok. I love a solo hike.

I may see no other pilgrims, but I will still make friends along the camino!

We did meet one guy back in Espalion as he was passing thru. Bill, from Michigan, who is heading all the way to Santiago, Finisterre and Muxia like me and I’m sure I will see him out there. He’s been hold up in Cahors for 3 days due to injury and thinks he will start hiking again tomorrow. He will be a day ahead of me since I am taking a rest day before Scott leaves. But after comparing notes I think we will be in the same places some of the time.

Tomorrow we plan to explore, hang out, unpack, do laundry, repack and get ready to head our separate ways. Scott catches the train to Paris at 8am on Friday and I will head out on my first 20-miler of this journey. Nothing like a long walk to get your mind ready for a solo camino.