Last update 14 April 1996
	27 March 1996	Checked into a hotel again, here in Condat, because the campings are still closed. By camping in the wild my budget allows me a cheap hotel every few days, which gives me a chance to shower and wash and dry some cloths. This afternoon it was very cold, but dry, and I made good progress. The walking goes better all the time, my paces upwards become longer and my average is going up. The way to the Puy-Mary, Monts-du-Cantal was not spectacular, but the next day after Condat the surroundings were beautiful again. Writing is a bit difficult by the way, with an overstretched thumb, caused by hooking it behind the shoulder-strap of my backpack, shouldn't do that so much. I wonder if it is this weekend, that we change to daylight-saving-time, think it is. Sitting in Cheylade, going to take a preamble to go over the Mary-massive. Ended tired but content on a camping in Le Claux, 12.5 km from the Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary). Asked about possibilities to cross the Pas de Peyrol, but it will not be open until May or June. There is too much snow, only with special equipment you could try to cross over, but even then, it would be quite dangerous, especially going alone. The last part of the road to the camping convinced me completely, couldn't see the road anymore, very deep snow all around, disappearing in it up to my backpack. No way could I go on, the plan to reach the highest point, 1588 m on the way to Santiago went up in thin air (or was it deep snow?). I wasn't too disappointed, looking at it on the way here, I already suspected it would not be possible. I could see the black line of the road disappearing under the snow many times. So, I'll have to go around it, which means a detour of about 35 km, maybe more by Murat. My reaction surprises me, I planned this route especially, and now it doesn't seem to matter too much. Time to get to know myself better!
	29 March 1996	After the coldest night (-8°C), the highest point up until now, Col de Serre, 1362 m. Beautiful icicles on the rocks and a magnificent view on the way to Murat. Nice old town, I got another stamp for my pass here. My hands are frozen, writing outside my tent on this camping in Laveissière, so more next time. Today, the 16th day of my journey, I cheated for the first time, couldn't help it really. I had to go through the Tunnel de Lioran, 1.5 km long and forbidden for pedestrians. So I hitchhiked; the guy who picked me up, didn't understand at first why I wanted to get off as soon as we came out off the tunnel! Then along the N 122 towards Aurillac. Made my camp about 15 km before, tired from walking, but more from the road with all the traffic. Not good for walking!
	31 March 1996	Very cold again this morning, have to wait till the tent has thawed a bit. 6 km before Aurillac I can at last leave the N 122, no regrets, and follow a beautiful but very steep country road. Crossing through the town, always a drag, trying to find a way out, preferably to a nice footpath. Don't feel like going much further than Ytrac.
	1 April 1996	Le Rouget: Like yesterday I walked too far, this happens too often lately. But what to do, campings closed, no good site to put up the tent. And also I am a bit afraid to get into trouble if I make camp too early when there is still a lot of traffic on the road. The N 122 and the big city (Aurillac) didn't do me any good, some other frustrations, in short I felt pretty down yesterday afternoon, in retrospect by my own behaviour. But still, the road was nice, the river Cère streams very fast, hoped to make my camp alongside of it, but there were many warning-signs. Put up the tent near some birches and consulted myself again (who else?). After a good consultation, in which I am always right, decided tranquility should come back, so I had to improve the planning. So much for April Fool! Next morning rain, breakfast in Pers 8 km further. How nice food can be when you are hungry and thirsty. Feeling much better, only I am not well rested, haven't been for some days now. Walking through waving farmland, going up and down, steeper than in the mountains sometimes, big old farmhouses. Remarkable how the farmers neglect their materials, left to rust next to the farms or in the fields. It is pouring outside, going on to Roumégoux - Parlan, and then pretty soon the GR 65.
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