Button moon

Very hot and a full moon!

 

Etang Bleu depuis Coumebière

DIY, work, haymaking, sheep shearing, dance workshops and poor weather have all prevented us from getting into the mountains for far too long. My initial plan had been to have a solo day out visiting Pic des Trois Comptes, Pic Puntussan and Pic Près Puntussan, but on Friday night Susie decided she wanted to come after all and so Saturday morning we both set off from Coumebière.

This route of getting to Etang Garbet is new to me and reduces the ascent and saves about 25 minutes compared to the normal starting point closer to Aulus. The path is clear enough, though with a lot of small ups and downs and it never really allows you you to get into a rhythm. 

Half a dozen tents at the Etang Garbet but no other walkers.

After going around the lake we climbed steeply up to the tiny Etang Bleu, hemmed in on all sides by steep cliffs where we had lunch. A very hot day, Susie was tired from her run up Joubac a couple of days ago and I didn't feel on top form. The humidity was building and we decided to put the peaks off for another day.

The clouds built and followed us down the mountain on a rather exhausting descent despite the modest 14km and just 800m of ascent.

We saw some isards, a golden eagle and single male Bearded Vulture. I hadn't taken the big telephoto on this trip, but the wildlife was all quite a distance away.

 

Bathroom and porch

Almost done after a couple of mammoth days, even had a shower!

 

Hay and bathroom

It's been a very changeable May and June - great for grass growth but not so good for finding a dry weather window for hay making. It was beginning to look like the grass would be flattened by the rain or go to seed before we could get it in, but meteo-france predicted a four day weather window so on the Tuesday I cut the hay. By the afternoon it was raining! Wednesday morning it was cold and damp and I was starting to think what my plan B would be? But in the afternoon the sun finally came out and I got to work turning the hay. 

Nat said he would swing by on Thursday with Michel's andaineur to make the winrows if he could borrow my tedder on the Thursday afternoon. I had arranged to hire a van and collect the plasterboard for the bathroom on Thursday afternoon and by the time I had finished I returned to find Nat and Patrick raking the winrows by hand! We finished them together and we decided to try try and bail that evening. The bailer was a bit temperamental for the first few bails but then decided to work and we bailed the hay into about 165 bails (larger and denser than last year). After a beer and cake break we trailed a 150 bails safely into the barn, leaving a few needing repair for the following morning. Patrick's tractor got stuck on the steep track from the barn but I towed it out with mine. 9.30pm before we were finished.

Next day Barry and Caroline came over to help with the last few bails and have lunch and in the afternoon I reciprocated the help, aiding Patrick and Nat to rake, bale and load their hay from the orchard.

The next couple of days was spent fixing the plasterboard in the porch and bathroom. A trip to Toulouse on Monday to get the last few materials and today the tiling in the shower is done. This bathroom has been the longest, most troublesome project, so it's good to see the end finally in sight!