Somme Where in France

A few days ago, tired, we took a chance and left the trail in hopes of finding a decent nights sleep. We had hiked 15 km that day, and were a little discouraged by how long everything was taking. Steeply descending a dirt road, I tried to put some distance between me and the group in the hopes that I could save them some elevation if this was a washout. I arrived at an empty stone farmhouse, on a hillside far from anything. Lower on the hill, strolling by a pond was an older man with a wicker basket filled with freshly picked dandylion leaves. Taking a chance I went down to meet him and so began one of the most magical days of our lives!!
The house was his, Cheryl, Joan and Jola arrived at it as we came up the hill again. His wife was called from the neighbours....his daughter came up to the house with his grandchildren, eager to practice english and we all settled into the evening. As dinner was prepared, we were left to our own devices with the Grandparents and engaged in a beautiful and humourous conversation as we four pilgrims found that between us, we could blend our knowledge of French into a perfect Consumme of French Language.
Every item we ate that night and the following morning were from her house, or one of her neighbours.
Apples, Giant Pork Chops, some of the best potatoes ever cooked, fresh vegetables, apperitif, dinner wine, yogurt for breakfast, Eggs, and the jams of course. Even a fresh made farmers sausage; Imagine this served in a large stone house that was actually a partially demolished Castle. The large kitchen with its grand wooden table, was dominated by a magnificent 10 foot wide stone hearth, big enough to boil witches cauldrons of soup in if need be but holding a perfect log fire for our warmth and enjoyment.
Like a dream it ended in the morning with the elderly farmer offering us a ride on the back of his tractor back to the top of the hill so we could rejoin our trail and continue to Santiago!
Now, on the evening of Day 8, we had what we are calling a 'short' day. Only 19 km instead of our now usual 22-24 km day. The french countryside is so cliche it is almost laughable except that it is so beautiful. Every day is filled with old manors from romance novels or horror movies, narrow walled towns from medieval novels, and action adventure chase scenes, Churches, trails, fields, and houses straight out of every preconception you've ever had! Today a working man walked around a corner with spattered blue cover alls, a beret, and a wooden bucket with plaster in it and i realized even the people are cliche!!
If you had a map, you could find Condom in southern France......tomorrow we will enjoy it's protection. Bon Noir!!!