Day 10 Livinhac-le-haut
Monday 26 September brings a not unwelcome cooler day starting with a climb out of Conques that had an almost jungle feel to it; struggling up through the mist once I had exited the town itself.
Another installation.
The previous night the Abbey put on quite a show which included a concert, a talk about the stone carvings on the outside and a 10 minute long animated illumination of the carvings to highlight the stories, characters and what colours they may have been painted. The concert included an organ recital of Procol Harem's Whiter Shade of Pale and The Animal's House of the Rising Sun which is about a brothel though the music does have an ecclesiastical feel when performed on a church organ. This is the finale but the animated show highlights specific areas at a time.
Another up the hill and down the hill day and I started out too brisk so weary towards the end. There is still lots of vintage farm machinery left gathering dust and rust in open barns.
I have seen this sign a few times and my loose translation is "Extinction of the local population likely - drivers be prudent". It is not clear if the message is for or against extinction.
I stopped at a picnic bench where a white works van was parked up. After 5 minute a couple came out, made breakfast and included me so I enjoyed a hot drink on a chilly morning. He was French and lived locally and she was Columbian on student exchange in Tolouse but on a vacation. They were very relaxed, chatty and interested in the camino.
