By the time you put your rucksack down in Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare, you’ll still feel the day in your legs. And rightly so. You’ve been on the move for almost ten hours and climbed well over 1100 metres. This isn’t a stage you fly through. You take it one step at a time.
One climb stands out: long and steep, and all you can do is sit it out. Then you descend again, and your knees don’t always take that kindly. This is a day for a steady pace and short, deliberate breaks. The rush of the morning is long gone by the end. Now you remember why you do this.
Walk at your own rhythm and the evening will come by itself. You’ve certainly earned a long shower.