Unlike the Camino Frances from St.Jean Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, it has been not so straightforward to find publications in English describing the itinerary I had to learn how to use Google maps and import GPS tracks from other walkers until I could reach an acceptable detail to map out the road and the likely stages where to rest and find overnight accommodations. The traditional route cuts through from Figeac to Cahors, and the detour to reach Rocamadour is less travelled and listed just as a variant. The total distance is “only” 187 km, whereas the section up to Rocamadour is about 100 Km more or less.

Most of the planning time has been spent to identify possible overnight stops in between stages just in  case we get tired early or we like to take more time to visit the surroundings. From my past experience, I am confident that what we will find along the road will be more exciting than any solution we can blindly find on the Internet, so let be it.

Today we have purchased the basic personal supplies for the journey and tomorrow we will try to fit everything in the backpacks. Eventually some of the stuff will need to be left behind.

On Wednesday 20th we shall leave the Italy hometown of Besozzo to reach the Malpensa airport to catch a flight to Toulouse from where we will reach the small village of Conques to get started with the walk. As training we have been taking some quick walks around some of the minor lakes here in the Varese region: yesterday we completed a 19 km trek in just 4 hrs. Even though we are a bit overweight due to the excessive Italian food intake of the past two-three weeks, we feel energised and ready to go.