Sunday morning started out pleasantly enough. I celebrated Mass for the community at 7:45, then we had morning prayer, followed by breakfast.
On the trail, Rudolph and I found the going easy... until the rain arrived. Rain is almost the worst thing that can happen. We would spend the next five hours drenched, cold and tired as we made our way to Golinhac, some 10 miles down the road.
I found the name of our destination very coincidental. For if I had had children, I always wanted to name my first-born "Golinhac" (son) or "Golinhaque" (daughter).
Yes, I'm kidding!
I say this frequently, but will add it again: 10 miles doesn't sound like a lot of distance, until you think about the uphills and downhills, and the winding roads in the mountains.
We arrived at Golinhac in the late afternoon, soaked. Golinhac is a little hamlet that is trying to be a resort village. There were numerous lodging options, but we feared that they may all be closed until summer. The town looked deserted with everything closed. We were soaked to the bone and tired, and wondering what we were going to do. There were signs that said to go to the local restaurant, but that too was closed.
We decided to tale refuge in the parish church (always a good idea), which was unheated, but at least had a sturdy roof.
We waited and waited, hoping that someone would come. I felt that this was a test in trusting God. Would He deliver or not? Of course it's easy to say "yes" in hindsight, but when you're soaked and sitting in a cold church...
Finally around 5:45 we heard a car drive up. The owner of the restaurant seemingly owned everything in town, as the place came to life. We were lodged in... Well, there's no name for it in English, but at least it was warm.
Our lodging included dinner at the restaurant, and it was heavenly. The soup was followed by a vegetable course of beans and salad. Then came the pièce de résistance: mashed potatoes and roasted chicken. It was really superb.
Then it was off to dreamland, knowing that the next day would be a real treat: visiting the holy city of Conques.
