Sequin to Sackcloth Tour Enters Week 6 – 533 miles from Canterbury

We feel fortified entering week 6 following a lovely two night stay in Langres. When checking in to the hotel Edward asked if a room upgrade would be possible,  adding “you know a room you would give to the Pope.” It worked, the room was wonderful, complete with Kleenex, writing paper, no Wi-Fi and a hairdryer. 

The two night stays are built into the schedule for extra rest, and most importantly to do laundry. Our wardrobe was particularly ripe after nearly a week of rain and a 10 day gap in service. The laundromat wasn’t nearly as charming as the previous laundromats. The machines were located at a roadside gas station under a small awning next to the gas pumps. Unloading our suitcase and filing the machines seem to offer some entertainment value for the customers at the pumps. But job done, we raised our still warm clothing to our faces and were grateful they no longer smelled like ass.

I hope you are not growing tired of our morning selfies, they may seem repetitive – hats, glasses, big smile. But crazy as it may seem those smiles accurately reflect how we feel. By contrast, at the end of the day we stumble into our destination, frozen expressions, mild hallucinations and even stepping off the curb can extract  what sounds like a Gregorian chant. But by morning we are restored, like lobotomy restored! We wake in the morning saying “hey that was awesome lets do it again!” 

Or that smile could be the afterglow of blasting the song One More Day from Les Miserables.

Some have asked if we walk in silence or talk.  We do both. Miraculously we still manage to amuse and entertain ourselves and each other. 

Our digital subscriptions have allowed us to stay current on news and events. We discuss various political and economic topics along with plant and insect identification. There is a neon orange snail, the Limace, you have to see it and mistletoe is a parasitic  plant!  And then there are our musings and random speculations, for example, what is the statistical probability of a certain bug making it safely across the lane. 

Many of the paths require we walk single file allowing for plenty of “me time.” This “me time” allows for consideration of pop culture topics like, Is Sarah Jessica Parker Parker brave for going gray and why did  Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess have a hard time choosing a baby boy name. Tough stuff!

There is silence but it feels intentional, oddly, almost conversational.

And then there is this other thing we are doing – Many weeks ago we met a couple, a father and daughter. We were staying the night at the same guest house, they were conspicuously silent, and guarded. We learned that they are from Minnesota and when answered if they were walking to Rome, they offered different answers. Father, “absolutely walking to Rome” and the daughter “not really sure we are going to make it.” To this strangers eyes they seem determined but joyless. We have crossed paths three additional times, however only in passing, literally passing. Their privacy is intriguing, and lends nicely to the imagination. We have been creating a narrative for them. I say they are in the witness protection program and the walk is part of the plea deal. Edward, a far more practical storyteller, has the daughter living or studying in Europe and the walk went from a casual suggestion to reality. The reality has lead her to some buyers remorse. The truth will be revealed.

Thank you for following!