Moissac to Aire-sur l'Adour

[Thornley]

Because of a sudden tragedy with family in the UK a few years ago this section was missed.
Both Rom and Aideen / Odile and Andre were wonderful in the help provided with urgent travel arrangements through Toulouse.

My wife will walk this section in July 15 , continue to StJPdP and then turn " right " and take 4 -5 days to Biarritz.

Would appreciate tips on accommodation on this section , especially to Aire.
Thanks Kanga in anticipation..lol.

 

[Kanga]

Hmmm. @Thornley I remember Aire as being a place where our accommodation was in a rather boring hotel, the first place we came to, on the entrance to town. It had been a very long hot and dusty walk so we took the first option. It was OK but not a highlight. We used the MMDD book and our accommodation was pretty much exclusively out of that. At this stage we mostly stayed in chambre d'hôtes, some of which were a fair walk off the path. My MMDD book with notes I lent to someone and it hasn't returned home so I'd be guessing if I tried to recommend specific places (it was six years ago!)

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I'd just say, if you have the time, take the 'detour' to La Romieu- I thought it was an interesting town. And if you are seeing Rom and Aideen again in Moissac say hi from me!
Margaret

 

[Thornley]

Will start there Margaret , they remembered you in 09 when we mentioned your name on advice given.
Good to hear from you mate, keep well , David

 

[Kanga]

Yes, we detoured to Le Romieu (although I don't really regard that as a detour! More a dogs leg bend in the road)

@Thornley I'm getting a list for you - one of my fellow walkers has some details in her diary.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

For a gite or room, consider:

http://www.hoteldelapaix40.fr/

More expensive, but good food:

http://www.chez-lahumat.com/hotel-aire-sur-l-adour

 

[Kitsambler]

My blog has the lodging details when I walked that section. The hill towns are definitely the highlight in this stretch, as the karst landscape is not very interesting.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Thornley, one of my favourite places on this stretch was Gite duBarry- a farm gite out in the countryside, near Lelin-Lapujolle- not all that far from Aire-sur-l'Adour really. It's a few years ago now since I was there (2008), but I found the people running it lovely. Apparently the gite communal in Auvillar is amazing but it was 'complet' when I was there. You obviously already know about Odile and Andre in Aire-sur-l'Adour. I found Nogaro to be the town I would most like to have missed on the whole Chemin- wished I could have stayed in l'Arbladoise just past it, as I heard that was a great place to stay from various sources, but it was 'complet' when I was walking.
Margaret

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The Office de Tourisme de Nogaro arranged accommodations for us in a private home a couple of blocks from the town center. The evening meal was one of those endless delights of great food, great wine, and great company.

http://www.nogaro-tourisme.fr/

 

[Kanga]

The first time I stayed in the communal Gite in Nogaro and it was pretty basic. I think the second time (with friends) we stayed before Nogaro in a rather weird fantasy Swiss chalet with yurts - am I in the right neck of the woods? You see the yurts from the path. I also seemed to have walked two different routes out of Montreal - only on the second walk did we go past and tour the amazing Roman villa at Seviac - definitely a highlight.

 

[sunsurf]

If you happen to overnight in Miradoux, I recommend Gite d'etape Bonte Divine. The young couple did exquisite restoration of their house and the food is superb. Dolfina

 

[TMcA]

My wife will walk this section in July 15 , continue to StJPdP and then turn " right " and take 4 -5 days to Biarritz.

And where will Thornley be hiking?

 

[billmclaughlin]

Just a few notes:
Maison du Chat Bleu is a treat in Auvillar. The cat's name is Diva. Only breakfast, but an elegant breakfast.
As you enter Condom, Le Chant des Oiseaux was a fine gite with dinner in the park-like garden.
Barcelone du Gers, nothing much of a town, but there's a very new gite as well as maison d'hote called Hospitalet du Cosset. Only drawback is the blowhard patron so it's best if you don't speak French or stay in the gite. The lady of the house is lovely and a fine cook.
In Lanne Soubiran, Le Presbytere, a maison d'hote right alongside the trail, hosted by Michel and Marinette, was a delightful old restored building full of African art. Fine meals too.

 

[David]

I started from Moissac in March of the year 5 but, strangely enough, have absolutely no memories of Aire-sur-L'adour!!

Don't know if any of this will help .....

That evening - Saint Antoine was a farmhouse, E. Dupont, and also a gite d'etape but they weren't doing food, though friendly. When I arrived at Lectoure the refugios were still closed but I found a hotel/restaurant at the bottom of the hill on the way out of town. Cheap and comfortable, the St Jacques de Compostelle. At Condom I stayed at the huge municipal and it was rather good, though echoey as it was empty but for two other pilgrims. Condom has to be the best place in the world to send postcards from!
At Eauze I stayed in the wonderful municipal gite, felt quite medieval - I picked the key up from the tourist office and put it through the letter box when I left.
Nogaro ... errmm ...municipal gite - remember nothing about it!
Next day the town I stopped in - both refugios were closed and the hotel was closed for a refit .. had to walk on to the municipal at Miramont - a 45 kms day. Vastly improved when the mayor turned up with a bottle of fine wine to toast the peregrinos (there was a young American couple there as well - they worked in Japan and were sweet but I think resented me being there as they had it all to themselves until I arrived, spoiled their frolics I think!).
Next day was a short one, to Arzacq - the only refugio there, was excellent, huge place, I was given my own room. Run by a gay guy who I think was "the only gay in the village" (English/Welsh joke) who seemed rather lonely and talked to me lots.
Next stop was at Arthez le Bearn - terrific refugio, municipal - asked in a bar and was directed to it .. old woman across the road had the key, was an 'ordinary' house that the council had done up as a refugio, well appointed with tea and coffee in the cupboards - provided by them. Two council officials turned up with clipboards and asked, as they had only just opened for the season, if everything was ok and how could it be improved. The community had spent money doing it up and wanted pilgrims to be happy there - delightful.
Then Navarrenx, Gite etape - ah, but I have gone too far!!

 

[Thornley]

I started from Moissac in March of the year 5 but, strangely enough, have absolutely no memories of Aire-sur-L'adour!!

Don't know if any of this will help .....

That evening - Saint Antoine was a farmhouse, E. Dupont, and also a gite d'etape but they weren't doing food, though friendly. When I arrived at Lectoure the refugios were still closed but I found a hotel/restaurant at the bottom of the hill on the way out of town. Cheap and comfortable, the St Jacques de Compostelle. At Condom I stayed at the huge municipal and it was rather good, though echoey as it was empty but for two other pilgrims. Condom has to be the best place in the world to send postcards from!
At Eauze I stayed in the wonderful municipal gite, felt quite medieval - I picked the key up from the tourist office and put it through the letter box when I left.
Nogaro ... errmm ...municipal gite - remember nothing about it!
Next day the town I stopped in - both refugios were closed and the hotel was closed for a refit .. had to walk on to the municipal at Miramont - a 45 kms day. Vastly improved when the mayor turned up with a bottle of fine wine to toast the peregrinos (there was a young American couple there as well - they worked in Japan and were sweet but I think resented me being there as they had it all to themselves until I arrived, spoiled their frolics I think!).
Next day was a short one, to Arzacq - the only refugio there, was excellent, huge place, I was given my own room. Run by a gay guy who I think was "the only gay in the village" (English/Welsh joke) who seemed rather lonely and talked to me lots.
Next stop was at Arthez le Bearn - terrific refugio, municipal - asked in a bar and was directed to it .. old woman across the road had the key, was an 'ordinary' house that the council had done up as a refugio, well appointed with tea and coffee in the cupboards - provided by them. Two council officials turned up with clipboards and asked, as they had only just opened for the season, if everything was ok and how could it be improved. The community had spent money doing it up and wanted pilgrims to be happy there - delightful.
Then Navarrenx, Gite etape - ah, but I have gone too far!!

Even in" Oz" David , we are aware of the name of the only gay guy in the village.
A very funny series it was . Thanks for the input , Angela has recorded all.

 

[Thornley]

Just a few notes:
Maison du Chat Bleu is a treat in Auvillar. The cat's name is Diva. Only breakfast, but an elegant breakfast.
As you enter Condom, Le Chant des Oiseaux was a fine gite with dinner in the park-like garden.
Barcelone du Gers, nothing much of a town, but there's a very new gite as well as maison d'hote called Hospitalet du Cosset. Only drawback is the blowhard patron so it's best if you don't speak French or stay in the gite. The lady of the house is lovely and a fine cook.
In Lanne Soubiran, Le Presbytere, a maison d'hote right alongside the trail, hosted by Michel and Marinette, was a delightful old restored building full of African art. Fine meals too.

Thanks Billy Mac

 

[Thornley]

And where will Thornley be hiking?

Hi Tom,
We will visit our friends in Concots , and this time it will be on market day with the restr. in Bach open also.
Then mate we will head to Moissac and commence walking there as we missed 130km a few years ago because of the death of Angela's auntie in the UK
On reaching StJPdP we will "turn right'' and walk to Biarritz in the valley, then continue to Santo Domingo hopefully on a path with only a few pilgrims .
We hope to commence in either mid June or later in July which the boss is against.
I think the crowds actually die down a fraction in August but Her Majesty does not like the heat when walking.
Hope your return to the Lot was wonderful.
Keep well mate,
David and Angela

 

[Thornley]

The first time I stayed in the communal Gite in Nogaro and it was pretty basic. I think the second time (with friends) we stayed before Nogaro in a rather weird fantasy Swiss chalet with yurts - am I in the right neck of the woods? You see the yurts from the path. I also seemed to have walked two different routes out of Montreal - only on the second walk did we go past and tour the amazing Roman villa at Seviac - definitely a highlight.

Kanga , could it have been Gite Relais Lu Haget @ Le Haget , with lady called Stephanie?
I was thinking of staying after Eauze.

 

[Former member 38395]

Kanga , could it have been Gite Relais Lu Haget @ Le Haget , with lady called Stephanie?
I was thinking of staying after Eauze.

I stayed at the communal gite in Nogaro after Eauze (early October 2014). I shared a private room with 2 single beds/shared bathroom with another walker for 13e per person. The beds were all single beds. No bunk beds. The gite was decent, clean and spacious.

 

[Kanga]

Kanga , could it have been Gite Relais Lu Haget @ Le Haget , with lady called Stephanie?
I was thinking of staying after Eauze.

Yes - I'm also possibly confusing towns and gites.... But that one definitely rings a bell.