DAY 22 - FAGNIÈRES to ST-AMAND-SUR-FION (Monday 8 May)

Today's route continued to the south-east, and once again featured some canal-side walking. After stocking up on the usual supplies, plus a bit extra to cater for tonight's dinner, we crossed back over the Marne and into Châlons-en-Champagne. We spent a while looking around the inviting streets of the old town.

It was a public holiday in France today, so most of the shops were shut (although we did manage to find one pâtisserie open for our healthy fruit), and there weren't many people about. 

Châlons-en-Champagne - an attractive old town

We found a meandering path through some trees to take us out of the town. We were headed for the canal towpath, now serving as a combined bicycle/walking path.

An enjoyable meander through the trees

All too soon, we emerged at the canal. We followed it for the next fifteen kilometres or so, indulging in the usual canal-side walking activities. 

Photographing Australian walkers walking by the canal

Watching the barges go by

Stopping at one of the benches provided for passing walkers to rest our feet for a while (and in this case, to eat our daily ration of healthy fruit).

Being overtaken by cyclists. We have seen many cyclists using the cycle paths by the canals, including several long-distance cyclists. 

Photographing flowers - easier than birds, as the flowers don't fly away when they have a camera pointed at them. 

We left the canal for the day shortly after a canal-side picnic lunch stop at Pogny. 

Picnic at Pogny

We walked the last 8 kilometres into St-Amand-sur-Fion on the GR145, the pilgrimage path to Rome. We have been following this path on and off for the last week, without seeing a single pilgrim. We did see a man with a big backpack in Corbeny a while back, but he was walking on the main road (while we were on the GR145), so we didn't get to ask him where he was headed. Here were a few highlights of today's last few kilometres. 

The locals were keen to come and chat with passing Australian walkers

More locals coming up for a chat

We found a muddy puddle to practise our puddle photography

And a tunnel for the classic tunnel photo

It was on this stretch that we passed the 500 kilometre point for the walk. We marked the occasion with the traditional ceremonial selfie. 

Day 22 - Healthy Fruit (and nuts). 500km into the trip, and still eating as healthily as ever. 

Day 22 - Birds. Another disappointing effort. We have been hearing lots of songbirds every day,  as well as a cuckoo most days. We are seeing several birds every day, including blackbirds, blue tits, magpies, crows,  grey herons,  sparrows, swallows and black-faced gulls. Haven't seen a great crested grebe for a while now. 

Day 22 - Elevation Profile 

Day 22 - Route 

Day:  22

Distance: 30.23 km

Walking time:  6 hrs 03 mins

Elevation gain: 204 metres

Cumulative distance:  506.57 km