Looking at walking from Lyon to Le Puy in early July, before continuing on to Pamplona.
Could anyone give me advice on stages? Or share yours? I'm normally a hilly 20 km to flat 30 km / day walker. Not adverse to short days.
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!
LAM
You should consider a detour into the Cele River valley -- it's beautiful. Not to be missed are the prehistoric cave paintings at Peche Merle near Cabernets. It's one of the few places where you can enter the caves and see the art in person. Admission is limited and reservations are needed. It was a major highlight of our trip.
https://en.pechmerle.com/
If you decide on the detour, I highly recommend stopping the day before Cabernets at Marcilac-sur-Célé. Book the Gite de Galance, where the owners can arrange for kayaks for the next day. Instead of walking that day, you paddle down stream to Cabernets. The kayak rental company transports your backpack to Cabernets and returns the kayaks up stream.
The combination of the two (kayaks and cave paintings) make for a memorable and highly unique Camino experience.
Like others I highly recommend electronic maps on your phone. The route is well marked, but if you want to detour from the GR the maps will be very helpful. In addition, it seemed to me that the folks who laid out the GR 65 wanted to ensure you never missed a hilltop view regardless of the added kms and vertical involved. I'm sure Bishop Godescalc didn't go to the trouble of sightseeing from every hilltop so neither should you. Follow the GR religiously and you will walk two sides of a triangle in many places. With the electronic maps and the GPS in your phone you will find opportunities for shortcuts which can take 5+ kms off the days walk. Electronic navigation also ensures you won't get lost. I have a friend who took a wrong turn in the woods on the GR 65 and walked until after dark trying to find a town. He ended up sleeping on a park bench and it took almost the entire next day to find the GR again.
Buy the electronic maps and keep your phone well charged.