Et Voila!

Bon appétit!

Supper

Drizzly today, so a short walk in the woods to collect supper - chanterelles, hedgehog of the woods and a few small ceps. Together with some of my home made bacon I think probably a risotto is on the menu.

Pic de Lasaugede

The upper part of the route viewed from Pic Soubirou last winter

As the weather forecast for at least the first half of today was good (rain arriving in the late afternoon) I decided another day in the mountains was called for. Three peaks to the west of Certescan were the targets - Pic de Lasaugede 2760m (the Spanish call it Tuc de l'Estany Blanc), Pointe 2696m, and Pointe 2771m (the Spanish call it Tuc de la Lleia) though it has no name on the IGN map.
Starting from Ossese I climbed above the Cascade Lastien, but I failed to find the path to the Cabane de Bonrepos - in fact there is no path, only some red paint marks to show the way traversing the steep slopes above the cliffs, and occasional cables to protect the route. Knowing that I'd gone too far I decided to head straight up the mountainside, hoping to intercept the correct route. It was precariously steep and I was just beginning to think that it was a foolish idea when I came across a good path traversing the slope, there were no red paint marks but it appeared to be going the right way. Alas, it became clear that this wasn't the path when I eventually rejoined the stream at Fonta. Oh well, nothing for it but to climb the mountainside again. After much searching for red paint marks I decided I might as well use the map, compass and my nose to find my own route to the cabane. The tiny cabane (about 4 feet high) was within sight when the red paint marks miraculously appeared. I was met by a berger (shepherd) and his dog who were staying there - transpired he was a mountaineer and ski tourer too (he skied down Cap de Ruhos when he was 15!) - we exchanged a few stories before I pushed on.
The going for the next part was easy, now I had the paint to follow, though there was no path and the going was fairly rough. Some fantastic granite spires loomed overhead, if they were in the Alps every part would have a climbing route on it - I doubt they've been climbed here.

All too soon it was time to leave the paint marks behind and just use the map to find a route up through 'Aliot' to 'the prison' the local name for the upper cirque. The going was similar to the nearby french route to Certescan, a mixture of bilberry, roche moutonées, snow and large blocks of granite. I scrambled up onto the rim of the cirque over snow and compact granite slabs. The ridge was very narrow and the final climb to Pic de Lasaugede over a chaotic mass of huge granite blocks. The views to nearby Pic de Montabone and Certescan were fantastic and below on the Spanish side was Estany Blanc (wrongly called Lac Gueroso on the IGN map) with its ice just beginning to melt.

The Spanish sides of Pic de Montabone (left) and Certescan (right) viewed from Tuc de Lleia. I climbed along the horseshoe ridge on the left.

Estany Blanc

I spotted two walkers (tiny specks) climbing to the Col de Certescan - I crossed it many years ago with Ollie on the HRP.
The ridge to the next two peaks was narrow and exposed, but once I'd got my head used to it, it was a very enjoyable scramble which took about an hour.

The first section of the ridge from Pic de Lasaugede (left) to Pointe 2696m (right)

From Tuc de Lleia I descended the huge scree slopes on the Spanish side before crossing back through the Col de l'Aliot and into France.

The view over Pic Marterat to Mont Rouch (middle of the picture with the obvious snow couloir running diagonally upwards to split the French and Spanish summits)

By now the cloud was nearly upon me - The day had started without a cloud in the sky, but all day I had been watching a sea of cloud, slowly advancing towards the mountains. I checked my position on the map, set the altimeter then I was engulfed. Visibility was about 10m. No paths, no markers, difficult terrain. With just map, compass and altimeter I managed to navigate all the way back to the red paint markers once more. By a combination of luck and skill I arrived at one of the few additional cairns between the paint marks (otherwise I could have easily missed them). I was pleased,but the going now was desperately slow. Even though I had the paint marks to guide me safely down, they were at 15-20m spacing and with 10m visibility it often became a trial and error search in the mist to find the next mark. After the hut, I had no prior knowledge of the route (having failed to find it on the way up) and things were even slower - especially as here a wrong turn might send me over a cliff! Eventually I made it down and regained the path to the car but it had been another long day (10 hours) with more than 2000m of height gain - again.

La Vie Ariegeois

Yesterday I was up early to cut the hay in Dédé's field (beautiful grass which after some light rain the night before was easy work for the scythe), then back home to finish the drawings of John and Sandrine's gites. A meeting at 12.00 with their builders which became a long lunch. Then back to the field to turn the hay. In the evening more fruit harvesting - wild cherries and strawberries.

Today up early to turn the hay with Minsou (Dédé's wife - I think they're both in their 80's but she insisted on helping). Then back home for l'apero with Philippe and Celine and all the neighbours (10 of them) to celebrate the completion of their outbuilding behind my house. A short siesta to sleep off the drinks (it was very hot today - 33 degrees in the shade) then back to the field to turn the hay again. A big storm was brewing and as the hay was already dry I decided to proceed immediately to gathering it into two haycocks. Minsou arrived again to help and as the thunder and lightning continued around us we finished getting in the hay - of course once it was in, the storm passed - with not a drop of rain!

The haycocks - probably need restacking so they're a bit steeper sided when the hay and the weather have settled.

Back to Dédé and Minsou's for l'apero, then more locals arrive, le Suisse, his wife Evelyne, another couple from Biech and the Mayor. Finally at 8.00 it's time to stagger home slightly pickled.

Glow worms

Hot and humid today with thundery weather this evening (but no rain). Quite a few incredibly bright glow worms outside tonight.

Works over the past few days:
Topping fields 2 and 4 and 5, scything the various paths from them down to the stream and a few parcelles close to the house (not mine);
Finishing the barn accommodation - made a couple of beds, some curtains, some duvet covers, finished the wiring, now just awaiting a solar panel and all is done;
Some architectural work for my neighbours;
Weeding the vegetable patches;
A short walk;

Tomorrow probably cutting a small field for hay which belongs to Dédé (one of my neighbours) - which means it will probably rain for the next week.

Maubermé

Maubermé towers 6500ft above the nearest point of access

I climbed Pic Maubermé (2880m) today (it was third time lucky as the last two winter attempts were disastrous). The weather looked doubtful this morning at 6.30 when I left the house but I was soon above the clouds and the weather was perfect. There was still some steep snow just before the Port d'Urets but I managed to avoid it and was there in 3 hours exactly. The onward route was mostly on snow or crappy scree liquified with snow melt. although a detour near the summit produced a nice bit of climbing. It took another two hours to reach the summit which is the highest in the Couserans.

View over the clouds from Port d'Urets

The summit shot

Mines de Bentaillou (telephoto lens shot from the summit)

Rather than descend the same way I headed for the Port de Hourquette and descended towards the Mines de Bentaillou, but kept right passing the refuge de sans and crossing the bottom of the Couloir Tartereau (scene of my recent avalanche). It was a long outing (9hrs) and with over 2000m (6600ft) of vertical ascent and then descent and about 24km (15miles) my feet and knees are feeling it.

Waterfall at the bottom of the Couloir Tartereau

Fruity

Looks like being a bumper berry harvest this year (in stark contrast to last year when we had virtually none). Fruits from the forest and ice cream for desert tonight - wild strawberries, wild cherries and a few raspberries.

Overcast most of today but forecast is for some clear skies tomorrow morning, so I'll probably make a long overdue trip to the mountains.

The great escape!

Marigold (furthest away in this picture)

Marigold after the last race - all the sails down except the mainsail - there are normally another 5.

Just back from 4 days of crewing on a 22m, 1892 gaff rigg (aurique en Francais) racing yacht called 'Marigold' in the Marseille Vieux Port regatta. It was an amazing experience. Marigold is a beautifully restored wooden built boat with cotton sails, laid ropes and rigging and no winches. She was restored about twenty years ago and Jason, who I go skiing with, has been the skipper for the last 15 years or so. He invited Ian and I to help crew her and we both jumped at the chance even though we both suffer from seasickness. In fact this wasn't a problem and neither of us had any problems. Everyday there was a race on a different course around the islands off Marseille. Normally there were 8 of us sailing the ship (though a few more people joined in on Sunday). Marigold weighs well over 30 tons, but with 250 sqm of sail, in a good wind she really moves. It was amazing when the wind got up, to feel the power of the boat as she lent over at 40 degrees and sped along.

The races where against similar wooden gaff rigg boats but with a huge variety of ages (some from as recently as the 1940s) - marigold was about the oldest and the only boat with cotton sails and all original features, but apart from the day when the wind was very light, she is very competitive and we got a first and second place.

We slept onboard every night but on Saturday night it was the fete des musiques in France. We wandered into the Quartier des Paniers of Marseille and partied until the early hours to a huge selection of music from Marseille's multi-cultural population, with every street and square providing a different sound (and taste as nearly every house had a table outside and was selling some home made food or other). Ian and I managed to stay on until the end of the last race of the Regatta before a zodiac (an inflatable speedboat) came to collect us at the finishing line. A mad jump from one boat to the other and we were whisked back to Marseille just in time for the train home.

Meanwhile, the day I left for Marseille my sheep decided to make a break for freedom! They managed to escape from the field and find their way to Aleu village, and then the next day up onto Joubac - the nearest 'mountain'. John (my neighbour) came to the rescue and managed to track them down and somehow to herd them back into one of my fields before my return yesterday. Una, Tara and Jeanie are looking pretty sheepish today. The hay has dried whilst I've been away and I spent most of the day putting it back into 4 haycocks.

Past few days

For the past few days the poor weather has continued and I've been catching up with farm work and finishing off the inside of the upstairs in the barn - which should be finished next week. This will provide somewhere for visitors to sleep which is less cramped than trying to put everyone up in Quelebu and a bit more private. Photos when all is finished.

Yesterday a trip to Ikea Toulouse to get a few bits and pieces and a new sofa. The one I have at the moment is a second hand Ikea one given to me by Ian and Ruth when I first bought Quelebu, it's a bit tired now and was never very comfortable - but it'll go well in the barn 'appartment'.

I had a broody chicken today sitting on ten eggs - so I hurriedly built a broody box for her so she wouldn't be disturbed - but then she changed her mind! Women! Oh well I have a broody box for next time.

Weather is set to improve at last tomorrow, just as I leave for a few days in Marseille, typical. Will have to spread out the hay before I go and hope its dry when I get back.

Wet grass

More torrential rain last night which was so heavy it came through the walls of the house over the front door and has washed away all the soil on the track which leads to the barn down to the original stones.

This morning it was dry but the sky was full of storm clouds. I carried on with the final fitting out of the barn and just before lunch turned the hay...again. Penny came over at lunch time to return some books I lent her, then after lunch, with the forecast for the next ten days being RAIN, I decided to bring in all the hay (aka wet grass) and throw it up into a haycock until we have some better weather when I'll need to respread it to dry. Of course as soon as I started the sun came out and it was hot as you like. I used the jimny and trailer to help transport the hay back to the barn where I built the haycock and six hours and more than 20 trailer loads later its all done - must be 2 1/2 tonnes of hay I reckon (more at the moment as its wet). About double what I got off the same field last year. About 2/3rds of it is in a proper haycock the other third is just piled up for now.

Rain

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain.

More rain

Up early to build a new permanent 'chickens only' entrance to the chicken run, then set about moving the fences to put the sheep back in field no 1.
The oak and matchboard to finish inside the barn arrived and I began moving it into the barn. The oak (surprise, surprise) was unbelievable heavy and although I managed to move the two short lengths (4.5m x 300 x 40) single handed into the barn, the longer lengths of 5.5m were too much. I shifted them to the barn with one end in an uncontrolled wheelbarrow and the other being pushed and carried by me, but had to wait for John to give me a hand to get it into the barn. The sun came out and ever hopeful I turned the hay.
Irish Barry who has a house in the village came to visit (he's here for a couple of months) then the heavens opened and the rain didn't stop until the evening. A brief lull in the rain's intensity allowed the three of us (John had arrived by now) to get the last bits of oak into the barn, but we spent most the afternoon chatting and drinking tea.
When the rain eventually stopped the sun came out but I didn't bother turning the hay, preferring to scythe the brambles and ferns rearing their heads in field no 1 and cutting the oak to length to fit on top of the walls.

Buggar!

Probably just had the heaviest down pour of the year - about 1/2 inch of rain in fifteen minutes. Like they say "don't tempt fate" (ne tenter pas le sort).

Tales from the farmyard

Up early this morning to finish the hay cutting, then into St G for shopping and Pont de la Taule on the way back to do a few bits and bobs. By lunch time with the sun shining it was back home to turn the hay.

Yesterday evening the sheep managed to get into the chicken run, overturn the chicken feeder and eat all the chicken food. It's obviously the equivalent of crack cocaine for sheep - as today they tried everything to get into the run again. - breaking a gate, braving the shocks from the electric fence and forcing their way between iron bars - in the end I had to move them to another field and crank up the electric fence charge until they'd cooled down. Unfortunately the chicken feed goes straight through them, so now they look like they have been dragged through a cesspit. They'll need to be dagged again when it has all dried.

By four the hay was cooking nicely and I began consolidating the windrows into about a dozen rows for final collecting. This year I have (two) old wooden hay rakes. I found these in Pont de la Taule and although nearly toothless I've mended them both. So much easier to use than the garden grass rake I used last year. The hay had dried amazingly quickly thanks to a gentle warm breeze and the fields SW aspect. It was ready to collect by six...until the rain started. Fortunately it was fairly light and short lived, so if it stays dry tonight and we have a few hours of warmth tomorrow I might get away with it.

Scything

After some tinkering with my scythe this morning (adjusting the position of the handles, peening/repairing the blade) I set to work cutting the hay. The weather is not set fair, but I need to cut the sward before it goes to seed and becomes too woody, and to let me get a second hay harvest - there is no good weather on the horizon so its a gamble. The grass keep is already amazingly dense and it was hard work, becoming harder as the day progressed (best to finish cutting grass by mid morning at the latest and I was still cutting at one!). In fact there is still a little more to cut but by 1.30 it was almost impossible, so I'll finish tomorrow. After 5 hours of scything the dense vegetation the underside of my scythe blade is polished like a mirror. My back is also aching - a combination of moving the handles, trying some new techniques, the heavy dense grass and the sloping terrain.

Poor weather continues...

But whilst we wait for it to improve, here are some pleasing pictures.

Field 1 with sheep and potato patch

Sheep

Field 1 again, looking grassy

The same view in mid-March just after finishing reclaiming the field.

My first cherries beginning to ripen

Another veggie patch with cabbages, cauliflower, fennel, haricot beans , mangetout, onions, leeks and chard.

Field 3 grass keep desperate to be cut but awaiting dry weather

Chickens in field 2

Wild boar

As I woke up early this morning, I decided to go for a walk. It was a about half six and it's always the best time to see wildlife in the woods. In one of the overgrown abandoned fields in the lower woods I came with 10m of large wild boar. I couldn't get a clear view to photograph it, so was edging slowly closer when I remembered that wild boar can charge and seriously injure you with their tusks - deaths even occur occasionally (especially when they're as big as this 1000lb 9ft 6" Alabama wild boar - which fortunately mine wasn't).

So I gently announced my presence and he made off down the field. For a large animal he was incredible agile - bounding much more like a deer than a pig.

Spent the rest of the day at Pont de la Taule progressing with the doorway which I knocked through with Ian's help yesterday.

Hidden doorway

With another week of poor weather on the cards and my building permissions finally approved for the house at Pont de la taule, I made a start on the structural works today. Hiding behind a wardrobe in what will be the living room, is a blocked up opening.

Externally there is no sign of it as the whole house is rendered. After some careful dismantling, it turns out that most of the door frame is still in place, sandwiched between the stone and the render.

Alas the oak lintels are rotten, so tomorrow I need to prop the wall and replace them. Fortunately I have some off cuts of oak left over from the barn.

Pic de Géu

Alun and Breezy admire the view to Mont Rouch

There was a break today in the damp weather we've been having recently, so I met up with Alun and Breezy who took a rest day from there barn conversion works above Salau to head up to the Port Salau with me. Weather was beautiful today and although Mont Valier spent much of the day under cloud, most of the peaks from the Port d'Aula to Mont Rouch remained clear. We reached the port at 2087m in couple of hours (where it was decidedly cooler) and I tempted Alun and Breezy upto Pic de la Péguille 2282m with promises of views down to their barn far below.

Alun on Pic de la Péguille looking for his barn

I pressed on alone continuing along the ridge across steep snow and narrow ridges over an intervening top at 2401m where I was caught up by a french fellrunner who was following my steps across the steeper snow sections. We'd seen him earlier in the day and transpires he's a tree sugeon called Eric who lives a stones through from me near Cominac. We finally reached Pic de Géu 2499m together.

Pointe 2401 is behind Breezy and Pic de Géu is the peak beyond that

The onward route all the way to Mont Rouch looks a grand outing for a long day with settled weather. We retraced our steps more or less back to the Port and thence Salau - meeting up with Alun and Breezy back at their place. A much needed beer for all four of us at Les Myrtilles in Salau rounded off a grand day.

The onward route over another 8 peaks to Mont Rouch

Clathrus Archeri

Found one of the Ariege's weirdest and newest fungi in field no 2. Clathrus Archeri arrived here from south east Asia about 40 years ago. It looks like a squid or starfish - but is very delicate and smells of rotting meat - not one for my supper.

Enlargable images

I have finally worked out how to edit the HTLM code so that all my posted images (not just the first one) will open full size when you click on it. Check out the last post to try it out - please let me know if you have any problems.

Pointe de Rabassere

Drove upto Gerac above Guzet ski station - where they were load testing the chairlift to Freychet (which hasn't opened for two seasons) with huge barrels of water on every chair on the 'up' side. After the short via ferrata section I continued towards the cabane Turguilla but soon crossed the stream below the first lake and headed up towards a shapely pyramid called Pointe de la Rabassere (2568m). It looks a great peak and is defended by a long gendarmed granite arete. After gaining the crest there were great views down to the Etang de la Hillette on one side of the ridge and the Etang d'Astoue on the other (this still had some huge ice sheets floating in it).

Higher up the Etang de Reglisse is still solid ice. Sometimes these aretes look awesome but when you get there they prove to be relatively easy - not this one. I picked my way along it for 25 mins but it's one for a rope, plenty of slings and a small rack. For another day.

I reached a high point of about 2280m before the cloud came down and sat at about 2000m, but by this time I was long gone and it proved to be a relatively short day.

Pigs in Space...!

Well one sheep in St Girons actually. Una's leg was looking decidedly manky last night and I decided a trip to the vet was necessary (or the abbatoir!). After hurredly making an animal transporter out of my trailer and an old chicken run last night, I loaded the sheep this morning and gave her the guided tour of St Girons. The vet (female) was very sweet and quickly inspected the wound. Nothing broken, perhaps a tendon 'nicked', too late to stitch, but the wound in her view healing OK. Some antibiotic injections for me to give the sheep and some antiseptic spray for regular wound cleaning and all should be OK.

After some dreary weather for the past week, things are brightening up now and today has been lovely - tomorrow a (long over due) day in the mountains.

Finished!

Window building

After a trip to St G, I got to work finishing the internal linings to the new window opening which took until about 2.00pm. After some contemplation last night, I decided that the new window didn't need to open and therefore I might as well make it myself. It was fun to do this from a single piece of oak. First quartering it, then planing a face and square edge on each quarter, before gauging it to required size and planing it down. Each piece was then rebated, cut to length, jointed and finally glued and pinned together. The finished frame was then installed and tonight the glass is temporarily sprigged in place - tomorrow I'll putty it in permanently.

Last window

Sorting out the oak yesterday reminded me that I hadn't installed the second (lower) gable window. So this morning I made the oak frame - cutting and planing up some old oak and pieces left over from the barn last year and in the afternoon I hammered out the window opening and installed it. It's a crappy job bashing out the foot thick concrete blocks but it was easier and cleaner than last time, as I could do the job from the outside in and set the scaffolding at a sensible height. Another day of finishing the internal linings and mortaring around the opening - then I just have to wait for the window to be made.

Clean and tidy

I collected the walnut from the sawmill which had been planked for air drying. Stacking it next to the workshop was a good excuse for a tidy up. All the 'junk' piled next to the workshop was relocated or binned. The pile of old asbestos roof sheets has been cunningly camoflaged under a green tarpaulin. All the oak offcuts are going to Pont de la Taule for imminent works there. Next the ruin was tidied - ready for putting in the last gable window and rendering the blockwork. All the earth, rocks and rubbish in front of the ruin were excavated and removed and internally all the rubbish and vegetation has been flattened and the scaffolding erected. The last hazel thinnings were sawn added to the wood pile and finally everywhere has had the grass cut. Everything looks clean and tidy.

A couple of days ago Una (who has already snapped off one of her horns) managed to run into a pitch fork and rip here ankle open just above the hoof. No blood but a very deep gash - difficult to see if the damage was more than flesh e.g bone, tendon. I gave it a wash, smoothered it in antiseptic and bandaged it to prevent infection. Although the bandage has remained on she is still walking three legged. I'll have to have another look at it tomorrow and decide what to do. To call out the vet is more than the cost of a new lamb so it's a difficult decision.

Found it!

Found my watch - but not saying where.

Where has the time gone?

Chicken of the Woods

Last night a fantastic meal at Donna's with Ivan, Justin and Emily. We ate a huge piece of pork which came from one of J and E's pigs which Ivan bought, plus loads of tasty vegetables and several deserts. Champagne, wine and finally whiskies from Donna's childhood home Islay - made for a banging hangover this morning - never mix the grape and the grain.

I have lost my altimeter/watch - I think somewhere in field 2 whilst scything a few days ago - but trying to find it is like looking for a needle in a haystack (fortunately I have a spare watch). If it it doesn't turn up in the next few weeks then that's my birthday present sorted mum.

Found a lovely 'Chicken of the Woods' fungus today which will make tea tonight and there's enough still on the tree for some more meals during the week.

Hummmm

Yesterday I was at Pont de la Taule paint stripping, repainting and hedge trimming. After a poor nights sleep - there's a strange barely audible very low pitch hum here which is driving me insane, obviously something a long way away but I have yet to discover what - I spent most the morning digging docks out of field 2. Then some scything (of course), before more spade work levelling sections of the ancient chemin (track). A thunderstorm in the afternoon brought a temporary halt to proceedings. More mushrooms for tea and hopefully some mountaineering/climbing at the weekend.

Walnuts and St George

More scything (never ends in the spring / early summer) then some guitar - the new piece is progressing well. In the afternoon I took the two pieces of walnut trunk to the local sawmill at Biert to get them planked for drying. After an hour of faffing about with blocks, ropes and levers to try and get the two trunks in the trailer, I ended up using brute force and just picked the things up - powerlifting can be fun. Reckon they're knocking on 200kgs each. After 4-5 years of air drying the wood will make some nice chairs.


This evening I found some St Georges mushrooms (Calocybe Gambosa) in the woods which made a nice omelette for tea. Wild flowers aplenty at the moment especially orchids which are prolific here.

Sheep moves

A trip to St G market early this morning for Tomato and Pimento plants, which are now safely planted up. Then after a spot of guitar (sheet music for some of Pierre Bensusan's pieces arrived) I spent the afternoon making about 40 fence posts to rig up a temporary fenced route to field 4. All worked well and the sheep are now there munching away - though they haven't tried out the new house yet.

Today felt really hot - humid, still and 35 degrees in the sun (about 27 in the shade). At 8.30 this evening it is still 21 degrees.