This section of our walk had undergone great changes since we first envisaged it. We had already left the GR, as it was nothing but a ditch of liquid mud after all the rain, and were sticking to small roads for the transition to Montluçon. This was not only because of the state of the track, but also because of Keith’s painful leg, which made every step a trial.
Our aim was to connect with the Canal de Berry at Montluçon and follow it down to where we had joined it last year at St-Amand-Montrond. The roads that we walked on, while not major highways, were sometimes busier than we expected, but we had no choice. Nevertheless, apart from the pain of Keith’s leg, it was a beautiful walk through the rich, peaceful meadows of the lower slopes of the Massif Central.
As to the evening meals, there were two days when we thought that we were really out of luck and would be eating stale bread in the camping ground, but on both occasions we ended up with a fine meal, which is such an important part of a walker’s day.
Day 24: Saint-Hilaire-le-Château to Ahun
Day 25: Ahun to Gouzon
Day 26: Gouzon to Chambon-sur-Voueize
Day 27: Chambon-sur-Voueize to Montluçon