CSJ Guides to the Routes through France #4(ii):
Toulouse to Puente la Reina 2007. 2008 and later updates.
Thanks to Ralph Alcorn and others for these updates:
page 61 3k to Chateau de Saint-Cricq - there is now a very welcoming gite right on the trail about 3 or 4k before Auch. Check it out in the Miam Miam Dodo (rec'd Oct 2009).
page 67 6k to Marciac. We did the suggestion here to bypass Marciac and go direct to Maubourguet via Saint-Justian. This is not 12k more like 18k if you follow the roads. The road that appears to go straight to Saint-Justian from Montlezun stops at a farm and doesn't go through, so we walked east to the first through road to cross the line of hills (rec'd Oct 2009).
page 69 Maubourget
Kim and David Didden offer B&B accomodation in the centre of the village; they don't have a special rate for pilgrims, but will do your washing for you and send you on your way with a substantial breakfast, as well as food for the day. Their website is www.maisonatmaubourguet.com
page 71 3k to GR653/Route via Lembaye bifurcation - after reaching the floodplain, the description doesn't match - we wanted Lembaye but missed the split. Someone should rewalk this and write a current description. Core of the problem was that we didn't know when we reached Moulonguet. When we reached Vidouze we realized we had missed it, and took small roads to Lembaye (rec'd Oct 2009).
Dangerous stretch before Sarrance p 85
After the first star burst gate you should regain the road (fork L) to avoid having to climb over a very large rock blocking the path, which makes the path seriously narrow. If one was able to climb up it might be very difficult to come back down to retrace one's steps.
A pilgrim reports (May 2008): "the path is currently impassable and becomes extremely unsafe after the rock. I actually managed to climb over the rock and then was in real difficulties. Not only is it difficult to turn around and come down over the rock again, but to move forward is also extremely dangerous. Had I known about this I simply would have continued on the R134."
On the old Topo guide this was advised and one walked on the east side of the river in meadows! The path has been heavily eroded by rainfall. See also Miam Miam Dodo Voie d'Arles Plan 75. Between the point marked height 319m at the railway viaduct and the road where it is marked Gave d'Aspe.