Day 40 – at Masevaux

The Alsatians were restless. Church bells at 6:30 am, and again every half hour. VE Day in Europe, and a special year to recognise that.

I dozed, each half hour, before eventually submitting to the dog’s enthusiasm for breakfast.

I had planned a route to hike the previous night, along the GR531 to a peak called Le Baerenkopf, then a ridge returning higher than the GR path, taking in a few other tops. Though the outward route was nothing special, a peaceful forest track on a clear day, the return on the ridge was really special, probably 6 kilometres of thinly forested path. There were a few other people out, but by no means crowded. It was just over 19 km, or 12 miles, so a good day test for the legs, and they just about held up.

It was 4:30 pm on return, so the Sale Quarter Final from Paris, and dinner.