Day one.. Â Merens to Refuge des BesinesÂ
Day two.. Refuge des Besines to Refuge des Bouillouses
Day three..Refuge des Bouillouses to Planes
Day four.. Planes to Caranca
Day five.. Caranca to Py
Day six.. Py to Cortalets
Day seven.. Cortalets to Arles sur tech
Day eight.. Arles sur tech to Moulin
Day nine.. Moulin to las Illas
Day ten.. las Illas to  Col de l’oullat
Day eleven.. Col de l’oullat to Banyuls.
It was tough walking, the weather was hot , the scenery fantastic and I loved every step I took 🙂
If your thinking about walking in the Pyrenees and along the GR10 I would recommend a few things..
Remember to take insect repellent or bite cream as I had a few nasty bites.
Make sure your kit is light and quick drying as its a hot dry dusty place and you will want to wash your clothes out at night.
If you are a light sleeper take ear plugs if staying in dormitory type refuges.
In peak season July/August book refuges in advance ( we had a few lucky nights where we just managed to get the last beds available )
If staying at Cortalets think about staying an extra night to enjoy a walk to the summit of Carnigou.
Keep your pack as light as possible, mine was around 10kg with water and lunch.
Most of all ENJOY !
We are now in Banyuls after walking 131 miles in eleven days along the GR10
We have had perfect weather very hot at times and only rain during the night
It has been a very tough walk but I have enjoyed every second and Geoff will never know how much I have appreciated the opportunity to do this walk with him
It’s been great to have my Kindle and catch up with the reading I long to do, but always seem too busy to do at home
Looking forward to a good nights sleep after being in full, air less, dormitory rooms for the past few nights, with some real miserable French people 🙁
3 days till we fly home, will be interesting to see what we do I hope to get a few hours on a nice beach in the sun with my Kindle
Then I cannot wait to have a bath and give my clothes a proper wash
It’s been perfect 🙂
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We had mountain thunder storms during the night so was happy to wake up to a clear fresh day
After another breakfast of bread and jam which I really struggle with, we were off on our way at 8.30am
Today’s route was a much easier walk with no noticeable height gain or loss, mainly through forest and across ski runs .
We soon covered the 12 miles and found ourselves at the Trailside Eco Lodge by 1.30.
The downside to finishing so early is the long wait till the 8pm dinner the upside is more time to read my book and rest my feet / legs ready for the next day.
Dinner here was very good all local organic food with local cheese too. Only 2 other guests staying a French couple we have bumped into now and again they started on the same day as us from Merens and will be going to Banyuls too so we expect to bump into them again.
Tomorrows refuge has no shower or electric so should be interesting.
It’s now pouring with rain and thunder can be heard in the distance but hopefully it will be dry and clear again by morning.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Casas del Mitg,Planès,France
We are now at refuge Des Bouillouses after 2 really tough days walking along the GR10.
The first day was only 6 miles but it was a constant climb,the actual height gain was 1367 m so not bad for a Norfolk girl
That night we stayed at Refuge Des Besines very remote and beautiful with a great evening meal which made up for the expensive price .
We had breakfast at 6.30 and was on our way by 7.30 as it promised to be another hot day.
The height gain today was only 602 m but it was a good 11 miles over very rocky paths, some still covered in snow.
The 2 hour climb up to Coll de coma d’Anyell was just awesome! Then it seemed a long way down till we eventually arrived at tonights refuge.
We had a long wait for the showers as a huge French walking group had just arrived but I passed the time with Mr Grey and my Kindle 🙂
Photos for day 1 can be found here and day 2 here.
Happy to say my achilles is behaving but as a precaution I am applying Voltarol gel morning and evening.
As I write a mountain storm is brewing.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This morning we left Cambridge by taxi at 3.30am after a flight and 2 train journeys we arrived 13 hours later in Ax Les Thermes and just to make us feel at home it was pouring with rain 🙁
Tomorrow we are going to sample the thermal baths and have a massage, I have booked the hot stone massage to see how it compares to mine.
Hopefully by Tuesday it will have stopped raining as we then take the train up to Merens les Vals and from here we start walking along the GR10. Day 39 in the Cicerone guide Book.
This will be Geoff’s third walk along the GR10 and I am lucky to be with him this time as he completes the walk.
My rucsac weights in at 8kg without water and food the lightest I have managed yet and hopefully this will help my Achilles.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It seems I really did only get my job transfer as a huge favour from one manager to another ( and because I kept nagging oops I mean asking ) which on the plus side is a huge stroke of luck for me but on the down side its what will they do with me !
I have had a great week working on the dairy and answering all “red “calls for the checkouts, amazing as I was not even till trained before !
My neck shoulders and arms have never ached so much and my brain has had to work too, yes I actually have one that still works !
The people I have worked with have been really friendly, I have settled well and my hours at work have just flew by … something that never happened on the fish counter.
Now I just have to wait while they make a job for me….. it should be the same days but the hours could change BUT I am not going to worry about that now as I am off to the Pyrenees walking on Sunday and wont be back till 18th July 🙂
Hope to blog if I can get wi-fi and I can drag myself away from Mr Grey 🙂
if not see you all soon x x