Week five in pictures

Matt would just have loved this !

Snack stop !!

The only one that interested us was Banyuls, but it wasn't there

Long zig zags will get you to the top

Another rocky ascent ...... probably to a col

The GR10 diet and the blue binder-twine keeping my shorts up !!

Sarah leaving Dam camp at 0800

2 hours later .........

How French is that then ?

1005 sheep passing our camp going to upland grazing

Bit of map studying at 2000m

Hoping that cloud will burn through

Almost running over the flat stuff on the ridge

Crossing another short snowfield in teeshirt and shorts

Merens horses by the valley lake

Energy giving hot sweet tea after a long trek

Cabane de Ruhle

The yellow Broom gave colour and a wonderful scent

Another day ..... another mountain

Another day .... another valley. Hey wait for me !

Another lovely day in lakeland



It may look idyllic now but last night we got thunder, lightning and hail !



Signing off

Evening of Saturday 25th June

Sue here, and signing off constant "update blog" duty - but only because am leaving Harrogate in the morning to collect the intrepid duo ( currently due to finish one day ahead of schedule, Friday 1st July) and administer balm to the blisters and sore bits!

Wish me luck.

Haven't driven on the "wrong side of the road" for years!!!

Arghhh!

Days 39 & 40 - the longest day and a lovely surise

from text received this morning

Day 39 Friday 24th June

Was the longest day spent walking so far, but one of the best.

Included over 1700m ascent over 26 km with absolutely gorgeous scenery and sunshine - still in good shape for the final week.

So...750km walked so far and the equivalent of climbing Everest 4 times in "up & down".

All with a full pack, and lots of it in the rain!  Respect!


Day 40 Saturday 25th June

"Just watched the sun rise over Canigou - absolutely beautiful.  That's our next challenge - is very exciting. .

Today we walk to base camp, and the good weather continues"

Day 38 ... All downhill today - a birthday treat

Day 38: Thursday 23rd June

Spoke to the troops this morning - someone seemed to want "happy birthday" sung to her, and sounded extremely jolly at the prospect of a short day's walk, all downhill.

Was wandering along with two balloons tied to her rucksack!!

They hope to make it to Planes by early afternoon, and planning to take the rest of the day off - hopefully muttering something about cold beers and a good hot supper. Good luck with that one - fingers crossed!

later.......(from text recieved 9pm this evening.....)

Lovely day was had by all apparently - easy walking, with a good long lunch stop complete with champagne, pate toasts, confit of duck, and lots of fromage!

(sounds better than my boiled egg!!!)

Tonight they're staying in an eco lodge where they "scored" a posh room for peanuts due to over booking. Result!

Expecting an early start tomorrow as they head back into the high stuff. (I should think so too - what DO they think they're on - a holiday!!??)

More remote camping coming up, and hoping to climb Canigou on Monday. Watch this space.


 

Day 36 cont'd & 37..... Brilliant scenery and sunshine at last

from text just received

Days 36 cont'd & 37... 21st & 22nd June

"What an incredible few days. We have just completed the best four days ever. Scenery has been jaw-dropping. We've been up at about 2000m for most of it, on lofty ridges, rocky plateaus, with tiny glittering lakes, wild horses, bright yellow broom, sunshine and high spirits".

(I guess they're enjoying it then!)

"Been camping in hidden valleys miles from anywhere, popping into mountain refuges for cups of tea, eating lots of cake (cherry and almond, so very happy) and sleeping like babies.

Last night, after cheese and chorizo pasta, we retreated to the tent for a monumental thunderstorm. Went on all night - you could read your book by the lightening...absolutely amazing! The tent held up brilliantly, and woke today to blue skies again :)

Now camped in evening sunshine near Lac Bouillouses after a long downhill day. Tomorrow we continue to descend to plains - only 4 hours walking, all downhill  - hopefully with a gite and good food at the end of it".

(Anyone would think someone thought they needed an easy day as a birthday treat tomorrow!!)

Day 36 ... and fragrant at last

Day 36 - Tuesday 21st June

Lovely surprise to get a phone call from the fragrant duo this morning. After several nights camping in the back of beyond, they've at last spent a night in a gite, with HOT SHOWERS! Was a blessed relief all round I should think!

So, good progress made - they've just left Merens Laval, which is the last village in the Ariage area (don't think they're sorry that particular section is behind them). Now heading off and up to other remote parts for 2 days, but sounded extremely happy, and can see the end in sight now - even if only metaphorically.

AND, the sun is shining. Hurrah.

Days 33, 34 & 35 - No news is not necessarily good news!

News received by text today

Days 33 to 35 - Friday 17th to Sunday 19th June

Oh dear - after 3 + days incommunicado, heard today that they are still safe, and on-track, but have had a few days of "not a lot of good bits!". Nothing untoward - just (what sound like) seemingly endless drearyness in the Ariage part of France.

The walking has been "challenging but not entirely enjoyable"
.
This is an area where the scenery is full of "grotty villages, mostly shut - interspersed with plenty of hydro-electric power plants". Most buildings appear to be second homes - many for sale. People come here mainly between July to September, for the rest of the year, it's deserted - all rather strange and depressing.

Also, the GR 10 route seems to do silly things like double back on itself, heading in the wrong direction, and confusing our valiant crew!

Never-the-less - they make progress, helped on their way by helpful shepherds, glimpsing views from lofty ridge walks, and the happy smugness of watching millions of pesky mozzies trying unsuccessfully to invade the tent in the evening sunshine, being kept at bay by modern tent-screen technology. Simple pleasures for tired travellers.

The shepherd who gave them an inaccurate forecast for sunny weather which turned out to be a day of drizzle, can maybe be forgiven by also providing them with an evening cabaret of 1005 sheep filing past on their way up the hill to summer grazing - quite a spectacle apparently.  (presumably, they didn't have trouble getting to sleep that night!)

They've walked up through ski fields today, and are due to walk up pistes, towards a high ridge tomorrow - hopefully with better weather and good views.