When you go down to the woods today..........

Our friend Irving who is staying with us enjoys walking, as we do, but we never seem to make the time. However yesterday we went for a walk along the Masse valley around the village of Les Arques. We realised that although we have done this walk several times we have not been on it since we were ill, probably because we were both a little apprehensive that it would be too long and that we wouldn't make it up the final steep hill. We needn't have worried - fit as fiddles us!! (just a few strings broken)

First of all we were most impressed with the improvements that have been made to the village. I was thrilled to see a large tulip tree in flower as we left the car park. We have a trail guide which described distant hills etc which are no longer visible as the trees have grown about 2 metres since our last visit. However little else has changed. The mill pond is full of frogs searching for a mate and their calling is deafening. 

We found a convenient wall to perch on to have our picnic before following the path through the woods. All of a sudden we heard the squeals of lots of children playing, almost as loud as the frogs. What on earth was going on? This is a walk in the middle of nowhere and if you pass another person it is an event!! We soon found out. A group of people, and their children, were on a pilgrimage from Rocamadour. In the church at Rocamdour is a famous icon of a black madonna. I have read the story surrounding her but I have forgotten it. Apparently the madonna rides on a donkey around local villages for a week at Pentecost. The Pilgrims were delighted to see us and wanted us to join them. We naturally declined but not before I had had a cuddle with the donkey!