Mistakes can be made!

We set off from Toul, following the shell sign of Chemin St Jaques.  We are now in Domremy, and see the shell as we walk around town.  However we are in the wrong place!.  Worst of all, we can't work out how we got here, other than the obvious - we walked.  

We left Toul 2 days ago, following the signs easily, with one 7km section being entirely through forest.  We had a reasonably steep descent into the village of Chalaines, our destination for the day, arriving mid afternoon, just as our hostess was setting off with some small children on horses.  Her son showed us to our room and tried to help us book the next night's accomodation, without success.  His mother tried other places too, also without success, probably just as well seeing we are now in the wrong place.  

Walking through the forest

The start of our journey along the Chemin, but the wrong one!

On the outskirts of Chalaines

We were on the side of the River Meuse which ultimately flows into the North Sea.  Crossing it, we had dinner in Vaucouleurs, an important town in the life of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc).  In her lifetime this was the seat of power of the area and it was to here that she went to make a plea to fight for the king, against the English (it was the time of the 100 years war).  

Vaucouleurs

An insect hotel on the way into Vaucouleurs

As we wandered, today, through nore forests, and fields, I kept an eye for a likely candidate for me to bail up and ask them to ring the only possibility left for accommodation.   It is Bastille Day eve and passing a Salle de Fete, I noticed a group of people setting up for the evening's celebrations.  I thought I might find a likely candidate there, and between them they tried several places, all to no avail.   Someone suggested the B&B in Domremy, but we couldn't get an answer.  We decided to head there anyway, still following the signs, as this is the birthplace of Joan of Arc.  The B&B was full, but there was a little house set up for pilgrims, and so we found a bed!  I must admit, as we walked into town, I paid special attention to a bus shelter which would have accommodated us if all else failed!

The village where the unsuspecting Fete prepares were bailed up!

The first sunflowers  - just starting to bloom

The B&B - we are in the little house on the right.

Passing through the village of Cruex we stopped at the Church that Joan sometimes worshipped in and then walked the few hundred metres to Domremy.  Once finding our bed we then set of to explore the Museum, the Church where she was baptised, and the house where she lived as a child.  

Jeanne d'Arc's childhood home

The church where she was baptised, adjacent to her home.

Our job now is to find our way back to the path we are meant to be on.  We think we will walk further away, then catch some sort of transport back to our route.  We shall see what the day brings!