Friday, 27 April Berneuil to Blaye

DISTANCE: 93 k/57.9 mi; TIME: 5h 53m; AVE: 15.8 kph/9.8 mph; ODO: 1000.8 k

I had an early breakfast at 7 am and I was on the road by 8 am. The country was now more open. At Pons I looked at the castle keep (donjon) and the château. On the way out of Pons I saw the old pilgrim hospice and took a photograph, after changing my film. I think I have been leaving the camera unlocked and it has wasted several shots. At Jonsac I also photographed the château. I left Jonsac at about 10:30. Several drivers tooted me, or gave me waves of encouragement on the way.

I stopped for lunch at Montendre and for my after lunch drink I had an infusion of Verveine (Verbena). I have not tried this before, but with the addition of a little sugar it was quite pleasant.

After lunch I continued on to St. Savain. The wind was in the SW and stronger with squalls.  I made a small detour and visited Saint-Martin-Lacaussade. Lacaussade - the causeway - refers to the pilgrim road. I arrived in Blaye about 4:30 pm. I soon found the Office de Tourisme and asked about hotels in the town. Madame gave me a list to chose from and told me where to find the majority of them. I chose the “Auberge du Porche” and I was able to fix another spoke in their garage.

After a clean-up, I went to look at the Citadel. I think that Blaye is a little over rated as a tourist attraction and holiday resort. Having failed to find a restaurant with reasonable prices in the citadel or town, I went back to the hotel. At dinner the soup (fish) arrived before the drinks (including the orange juice I ordered) and the main dish had a sausage and not much duck. Presumably the duck had run out!

Hospice de Pèlerins - Pons
Château at Jonsac
St. Martin-de-Lacaussade
Citadel entrance at Blaye

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