Safe Return Doubtful

Day 80 – to Mandailles Central southern France seems to have a similar weather pattern to the south of England at present, with heavy showers and thunderstorms sometimes merging into longer periods of rain. I found a gap this morning though, and, with Roja, took on a circuit on the…

Day 79 – to Bruniquel In light rain Roja and I walked into the village this morning, took coffee and watched the morning lives of the locals for a while. There were no visitors except for a table of four ramblers sat opposite me on the terrace, but they were…

Day 78 – to Luvie-Juzon It was a superb night up at the Col de la Hourcère, clear and extremely dark, with a good chance to examine the sky. From 2:30 pm yesterday afternoon, when a couple of motorcyclists passed, no vehicle went by at all. I doubt very much…

Day 77 – to Col de la Hourcère (1450 metres) I moved on this morning after four good days at Larrau, and it’s highly recommended and hospitable little campsite. My first destination was Tardets to use the supermarket, but it was market day, and the place was crammed full of…

Day 76 – at Larrau No bread at the campsite this morning, but there was some available at a house in the village, as this is a holiday weekend in Europe (VE Day). As ever, I was immersed in a book, and left it until late in the morning before…

Day 75 – at Larrau Another very warm morning with storms forecast later in the day, but there were no rapid starts, as I tempted myself to a second coffee and lay reading Charles Willeford’s High Priest of California for an hour or so. Then we took on a longer…

Day 74 – at Larrau This is a super little campsite, so small that motorhomes cannot fit into the driveway, just off the GR10, so it attracts quite a few walkers. Over a beer this evening I was chatting to the owner. He and his wife have two children under…

Day 73 – to Larrau (France) With the weekend approaching it didn’t take me long to decide to quit the Spanish Basque area and make the journey across to the Pyrenees. I’ve travelled a few times through this area, around Pamplona and Vittoria, and as scenic as it can be,…

Day 72 – at Murgia (Gorbeia National Park) Today was the first hot and humid day of this course, and though it did creep a couple of degrees higher than predicted, to 32C, it was forecast. It was however, pleasantly cool in the morning, at 8C, difficult to believe it…