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2017 E5 walk, day 18: Mûr-de-Bretagne to Saint-Caradec

Section 5, Day 18
Mûr-de-Bretagne
3°0′2.5″W
48°12′14.7″N
St-Caradec
2°51′39.3″W
48°10′47.1″N
low 42 °F
0.03″ rain
high 50 °F
41,608 steps
15.2 miles

I returned to the trail in Mûr-de-Bretagne, and headed north out of town. It was drizzly in the morning, the first measurable rain I’d had so far.

My rain gear was just a compact water-resistant jacket. I wore it over my down vest for extra warmth on the coldest mornings, slung it at my side if I expected rain, and rolled it up and tucked it in the top of my backpack the rest of the time.

I cheated a little bit on the walk this day. I had reserved a room, but it was kind of a last resort: My maps had put it far out of the way, nearly an hour’s walk off the trail. The trail north of Mûr-de-Bretagne looped up the Vallée de Poulancre, and then back down the valley (perhaps two hours’ round trip) to a spot barely 15 minutes away from the starting point. Anxious about getting to my destination in time, I just took the 15-minute-long shortcut. I don’t really regret doing it, even though the gorge would have been pretty. After the shortcut, the route was a paved road that wound up and back down through a forest.

Beyond a steep embankment, the top of a château is barely visible to the north — the steep roof on the main building and tower, and part of the floor below. Part of a road can be seen at the bottom of the picture, with a picket fence that perhaps gates the way onto the property. Trees are visible in the distance behind the château.
At the top of the route, I caught this glimpse of the Château du Quellenec.

The route continued to the town of Saint-Guen, where it rejoined the voie verte cycle trail, and then skirted the town of Saint-Caradec.

My original plan had been to leave the trail at Saint-Caradec and head east towards the town of Loudéac, where I’d thought my destination was. But along the way, I’d realized that I’d misunderstood: In fact, it was just a short (10–15 minute) walk off-trail through a field along a dirt road. So I crossed under a highway and turned onto the dirt road towards my destination.

A massive éolienne (wind turbine) is silhouetted by the sun behind to the south-southwest. The sky is partly cloudy; the field can’t be made out, though trees and power lines are visible on the horizon.
The field had this éolienne (wind turbine) just a handful of yards from the road — it made an impressive noise, not unlike a jet plane.

I stayed in a room at a friendly, comfortable farmhouse, Ferme de Goizel. The farm was well-supplied with cats, though none visited my room.

Looking out the window, we see that it is set in an eight-inch-deep niche, occupied by a grey cat, which is fluffed up in the sun. Yard furniture is visible on a tile patio; just inside the window is a water kettle and perhaps a pair of mugs.
It was windy, which did a good job of driving the éolienne, but also vexed the cats. This one took shelter in the window well.

I assembled a salami and cheese sandwich for dinner, and then read a bit before turning in.

Map of the day’s route.