Distance: 20 km (Cum: 23 km)
Ascent: 1100 metres (Cum: 1120 metres)
Time taken: 7.0 hrs including 1.25 hrs stops
Weather: sunny, then cloudy, then light rain
Time taken: 7.0 hrs including 1.25 hrs stops
Weather: sunny, then cloudy, then light rain
Mainly tarmac to Biriatou, where Sue is pictured below the church, then lovely forest and mountain paths to Olhette, with a good refreshment stop before Col d'Ibardin. Ancient sunken lanes and old paved routes to Spain were delightful, though Sue found the strawberries to be inedible. Near the 486 metre summit of Choldokogagna (how did it get that name?) a red kite flew past and a family of young vultures were receiving hovering and landing lessons. It was fascinating to watch. Nearby the skeleton of a horse had been picked clean. Lots of wild horses were seen today - they are a feature of the Basque countryside.
We had started by stocking up at Lidl and then taking a lane to rejoin GR10 just as Bruno and Christof were arriving at the same point from the beach.
We bumped into these two chaps from Tours a few times today, but they don't appear to be staying in our crowded dormitory at Gite d'etape de Olhette. Sue booked half board but all that seems to be available is breakfast. Had we known we would have brought supplies. And tea bags.
Never mind, there's a restaurant down the road.
A few people were seen on today's paths but it's generally pretty quiet.
Later: we enjoyed another delicious meal with John and David at the Trabenia restaurant, where Bruno and Christof are staying, which luckily was open. And as expected it was full. Apparently it's not always open. There may be a takeaway delivery service from another establishment, but my advice to those coming this way is "Buy some ingredients at one of Col d'Ibardin's many shops."
The rain has stopped, but more is forecast.
That's all for now from a very sociable day in the Pyrenees.
Sent from our GR10 trip - see here for our itinerary
4 comments:
I follow you every day on your adventures and walks they're brilliant.
Sue, your feet look massive on that pic. Must be because you are so petit.
Martin, say nothing.
It was 40 degrees when I arrived at Olhette, and I thought I wasn't going to be able to cope if it stayed like that. Fortunately it cooled down a bit next day. I had a massive and enjoyable meal at that gîte.
Bonne continuation.
I'm saying nothing Alan!
It wasn't cold at Olhette, Conrad, but it rose to 16C during today. We got breakfast at the gite, but they've stopped doing evening meals.
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