Tour de Mont Valier

Before Susie and the kids arrived there was just time to finish the cupboards in Jasper and Ruby's bedrooms, build a ski rack and make a knife and spice rack in the kitchen. 

Monday was Philippe and Sophie's wedding and in the evening there was a soirée at Gouteto, interrupted by a massive thunderstorm.

On Wednesday I picked up Susie, Jasper, Ruby and Jordan. An afternoon mushroom hunt took us to Aliot and because of the number of fallen trees blocking the paths we ended up on a rather 'longer then planned' trudge through the forest. Good training for the up coming trek in the mountains and full basket of mushrooms to show for our efforts - horn of plenty, chanterelle, hedgehog of the woods.

 Snack break

The end of the path!

Coral fungus

Chicken of the woods

Saturday we headed off for our three day tour of Mont Valier. Our packs were heavy with tents, sleeping bags and three days of food. Ruby was a bit under the weather with a cold but everyone was determined.

The climb of 3500ft to the lakes at Milouga is steep and unrelenting and an emergency stop for hot chocolate at the Cabin d'Aouen was called for. The clouds stayed just above us as we climbed higher with views to distant peaks.

Finally we reached Milouga and after a short search found a fantastic camping place. The clouds cleared to reveal Mont Valier above us.

At night the sky cleared and the temperature dropped to zero, everyone survived but some were warmer than others!

Jasper, Susie and I were up early and ready to go - not so Ruby and Jordan. Eventually, many hours later (11.00), we started our climb towards the Col de Pecouch 2478m.

Ruby was finding things especially tough and I found myself carrying two packs on the ascent.

Susie crossing the vast granite wilderness above Milouga

 Mont Valier and Valieret

Finally after lunch we reached the Col. I ferried the rucksacks down the exposed first section from the col then we continued down to the Estanous Refuge.

On the Col

 At the Estanous Refuge and a well earned cold drink

We continued down to the Etang Rond for a second night under canvas. The Mosquitos were relentous so an early night for everyone. The temperatures were much warmer and everyone was warm enough.

In the morning, we had to decide weather to continue to the Etang Long and over the Col de Barlonguere or descend via the Riberot. Another late start determined our fate and with the hot weather it was a wise choice as Jasper suffered with little too much of the sun.

 Ruby sets out from our camp at the Etang Rond

We got back at 4.00pm after several dips in the tempting (but cold) waters. It's always good to descend knowing you can eat the remaining of the food you are carrying, without worry that it might be needed later.

Back at the house we all relaxed, basking in the hot evening and watching the falling stars

Today it was a lazy day all round. Susie was sunbathing and baking, the kids playing badminton and I scythed the saplings out the field below the wood shed then went on a mushroom hunt, collecting a basket of horn of plenty. They'll be dried, to join our haul from earlier in the week, then jarred up for casseroles in the winter.

Dartmoor

Back in the UK for 2 days for an important work meeting. Snatched a day on Dartmoor with Jasper and his friend Jordan who both come out to France in a couple of days with Susie and Ruby.

 Jasper and Jordan chimping around

View from Great Mis Tor

Les Landes

Just back from a few days camping on the Atlantic coast in Les Landes, a vast flat department of pine forest. 

Found a lovely camp site under the trees, quiet and well maintained (about 95% of the campers were Dutch). The beach was a few minutes walk away. There's a continuous fine sand beach about 150 miles long so no difficulty finding a place! To the West there's nothing until America so the waves were big and surfing popular.

On Monday we hired bikes and explored down coast on excellent cycle paths through the forest. Another (better) beach further south and the freshwater lake at Leon.

 A ridiculous selfie taken as we cycled along

After the storm a return to summer weather. Hopefully high pressure over the Azores will return at the end of the week and we'll have 'normal' weather.

The market in Saint Girons was heaving but Susie managed to get some plants and herbs at very reasonable prices.

It was hot in the afternoon, so I fixed the solar power in the barn and finished off the towel shelves in the bathroom...just my ski-rack to build! Visits in the evening to Gilbert and Nicole, John and Sandrine.

A short trip to the Atlantic coast in Les Landes next.

Yesterday Susie sanded and re-varnished the table whilst I made new tree trunk seats for the terrace.

A welcome return to normal summer temperatures today (32 degrees). The Dutch threesome we met in the cabane de l' Etang Hillete, came to visit in the morning, a pleasant surprise and good company. In the afternoon Susie set to work on her herb garden whilst I cleared out the workshop. A strong winds heralded the arrival of an electrical storm at nightfall - despite the weather warnings it didn't last long.

Etang Hillette

On Saturday we went to Foix to visit the African Festival going on there. We bumped into Donna, Sam, Helen, Cherie and Michael and ended up having an African meal together. This was followed by an amazing band from the Ivory Coast with drumming, dance and a Kora player. During the concert I spotted Ben in the audience who I haven't seen for years (he now lives in Andulcia) who by chance was in Foix for a few days.

On Sunday afternoon we headed into the Cirque de Cagateille and climbed up to the Etang Hillette for a overnight camp. In fact there was no-one in the cabin when we arrived so we opted to sleep there. Later we were joined by three Dutch walkers - a dance teacher, a double bass player and a mime artist. Lots to talk about.

Above the cirque

Pyrenees Lily

During the night we were kept awake by dormice, who relentlessly (and rather boisterously) tried to get at our food - they eventually managed to get into our tupperware sandwich box!

In the morning we continued our walk to the Etang Alet and then the long descent back to the car, alas it was a pea-souper all day.

Etang Hillette

Evening views from the Etang Hillete

Looking past a huge erratic to the cabin and Etang Hillette below

In the morning on the way to tthe Etang Alet the clouds part briefly

A slow worm Susie found on the descent

Yesterday we went on a mushroom hunt in the afternoon and got quite a haul of chanterelles and hedgehog of the woods, a single cep, a blusher, a puff ball and meaty russula. A brief stop in La Trappe to see the new windows in the project I'm running there and tea with Gilbert and Nicole.

Back home l'Apero with Sandrine, Alain and a visit from Georges and Lucette.

A fantastic relaxed evening last night at John and Sandrine's with friends old and new. 

Today after a lazy start we headed on a circuit including Cominac where we had lunch. Saw my first ever Red Backed Shrike. Back home just before the thunderstorm.

France for the summer

Yesterday I was mostly finishing off pieces of work and involved in site meetings but in the afternoon Susie and I headed off into the woods near the house. A good haul of Giroles, Oyster mushrooms and Hedgehog of the Woods (Girolles, Pieds de Moutons et Pleurote en Forme d'Huitres). Showed Susie the mother of all badger sets and she saw her first pyrenean squirrel.

 shhh....badgers!

Is that a squirrel?

Strimmed and erected the badminton court today. Tonight is John's birthday party, so Susie is cooking and I'm finishing the last of the work. A camping trip to the mountains soon.

Bantham beach

Trip to the beach 

Port de Barlonguere

8.00 start from Pla de Lau and straight into the stiff climb up the Vallon Peyralade (same route as my climb of Pic de Barlonguere last autumn). 50 minutes saw me out of the trees and into the sun which was already hot. The footbridge opposite the Cabane de Peyralade has been washed away and the snow bridges were all too thin to attempt. A large group which had been staying the cabane opted to stay on the left bank and climb to the Cabane Trincade, crossing higher I up. I knew this was a lot further so after some searching I found somewhere to cross - though it was mid thigh deep!

A helicopter passed me several times dropping supplies for the bergers at the Cabane de Barlonguere.

I got to the col after about 3 hours and it was really hot. I had planed to climb Pic de Trois Comtes to the right of the col, but the view from the col of the Etang Long was too tempting so I opted to descend. Passed some Irish on the steep névés below the col without sticks or ice axes - dragging their kids up! A slip would have been difficult to stop and could have had serious consequences - none of them looked very happy.

Looking down from the col, Mont Valier on the left

The Etang Long was about 80% under snow despite the heat, but quite beautiful.

Great view of the last part of the voie normale up Mont Valier

After lunch at the outfall of the lake, I descended to the Etang Rond, I was sorely tempted to swim but after putting my feet in for a few minutes the cold was decidedly painful.

The long descent of the voie normale of Mont Valier took me back to Pla de Lau - about 6 hours 30 minutes in total, plus lunch.

Flowers today were varied and amazing, including these geraniums and the orchid below