Sue and Martin's Big Adventure
Day 22 - Monday 16 August 2004 - Rest Day in Gavarnie
Postcard Summary
Campsite
with view all day. Classic rest day. Julie arrives with lots of luggage
Our well earned second rest day was
really that! Washing was done by 9.30 –
the walking pole washing line worked well for a change. It was a lovely sunny day so we enjoyed a
nice picnic with fresh French bread and, later, beers in the shade when it
became unbearably hot by the tent. Julie
and a huge amount of luggage disgorged from a bus around 6pm, and we had
another nice meal out.
Diary Entry (by Sue)
Second rest day in
3 weeks - hoorah! During the night, some rain, lightning and thunder, but a
dry, clear morning.
By 9.30 all
washing was done, made difficult due to the availability of cold water only. A
successful washing line was constructed, then improved by adjusting its direction,
so the washing was at 90 degrees to the sun.
The morning soon passed in the vicinity
of the tent. The supermarket provided a filling lunch of baguette, goats
cheese, pâté de foie and tomatoes, then a repeat visit restocked the larder for
the next couple of days.
Julie is due after 6, so this gives time
for postcards, reading etc. This is a great place to spend a day - from our
camping 'terrace', we look down on Gavarnie in
one direction, and have the Cirque in the other direction.
Through the binoculars, occasional
glimpses of people on the ridge before Le Taillon can be seen. A yellowhammer
visits to eat bread crumbs during lunch. Below, a continual trail of people and
mules proceeds up and down to view the Cirque from closer quarters.
Over a beer, I finish 'The Life and Times
of Michael K', that I've had to
ration before sleep each night, as it could be read in a single sitting. Good
recommendation, thanks Helen! It has now been posted back in the hope that
Julie is bringing another book.
We doze/write postcards by the tent,
which is still almost too hot compared with the shade under the trees by the
café. Soon, time to walk to meet Julie's bus, which arrives on time at 6.10 pm.
We get her settled at the campsite and return to eat at the same restaurant as
last night. Another very nice meal. As we find out way back to the tents in the
dark at 10 ish, flashes of lightning can be seen. This is the precursor for a
long storm overnight.
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