Across the Pyrenees on red wine and ibuprofen

w3w

This was a long old day… we climbed hard out of Lizala below the limestone crags reaching our first proper col before just going straight down again – this seems to be a theme of the GR11 – no walking along a ridge line ! We dropped all the way down to the valley bottom and were expecting a pleasant stroll along the river to the hotel to finish off the day nicely….. Instead and for no apparent reason, the path goes up through the forest and then down again 3 times so it took us another 3 hours. (In case anyone is wondering why we didn’t know this, the scale of the maps is quite small – it’s not always that we mess up !). On the plus side, the hotel has its own brewery but downside no internet – hence the delay to this post.

w3w ///tidily.lanky.concluded

Mainly easy day today as we head into the big mountains. Staying in a campsite here with beautiful views but not much else going on – not even a little Fiesta ?!

Left behind the Basque Country today and we are entering the mountains proper tomorrow

We’re still here – resting up before heading into the mountains for our first 5 day stint..

Isaba is beautiful, well worth another visit one day.

Lazy rest day in Isaba, which is a typical stunning mountain town. The fiestas seem to be following us but this one was less rowdy than Ochagavia where they were still drinking at 8:00 am

Sad that the girls aren’t with us any more but the good news is that the reserve support team are flying in tomorrow

w3w ///cheaper.permanently.canoes

Sad day today as our GR11 Support team left to go home. They have been brilliant – thank you ladies !

It also meant we had to carry our full packs for the first time – certainly noticed the difference on the hills.

The walking was straight forward today, mainly on a forest track before a killer descent down to the town where the mountains are now in full view.

Not a lot to say about today really. It was a 20k slog up a gravel forest road and then a steep descent into Isaba, which is another lovely village

w3w ///dishing.uncle.fixates

Later start this morning due to mist and a comfy bed… Straight into a long climb that annoyingly stayed inside the damp forest so we were almost cold at one point (?!) Once out onto the ridge, views were spectacular again and we are starting to see the high Pyrenees in front of us, although still a long way away.

Long drag down then into the village, where for a special last night’s treat for the girls, we are staying in wooden huts in a campsite.. Still, it’s festival night here tonight so anything could happen 😉

First view of the high Pyrenees which is where we’re heading. Griffon vultures circling above us. They must have thought we looked a bit weary

No stunning views today as most of the 18k walk was in woodland. First time carrying a nearly full pack before the girls leave. It slows you down on the climbs that’s for sure😁😁