Too Old to Die Young. Too Big to Cry - Days 26 to 29 (Cognac and Talmont-sur-Gironde)

“Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality.”
― Daphne du Maurier

The fisherman leaves . . . 

Two almost unbearably wonderful days with old and new friends in the extraordinary village of Talmont-sur-Gironde provided a fitting finale to Karura's odyssey.

This hollyhock laden maze of medieval streets, candles, music, art, and civilisation rests upon a rocky outcrop protruding into the Gironde estuary and can be entered only at the will of the residents.

. . . and brings back supper!

Karura was waved through the barrier and guided by bicycle past the tourists to the Old Customs House, a magnificent oasis of calm, reflection and contentment, hanging onto the rocks, lapped at by the waves.

As the fisherman passed by the window a thumbs up meant that supper would soon be ours. Not for the first time, Karura ate the best food, drank outstanding wine and talked with friends for hours. A shared bottle of XO Cognac from the vineyard where Karura had stayed the night before brought perfection.

It had been a long time since Neith's bandages had fallen away. Long enough for Karura to have seen eternity and danced with the gods. As he packed his bags for the final time, Karura felt deep sadness that his journey would be coming to an end, yet also a sense of joy and a promise of good things to come.

This time tomorrow Karura would be on his fourth and final ferry. Back to England and then onward to Llansilin and, for now at least, home.

Karura needed to think, to rest and then to write one final time.