I love getting up in time to watch the sun come over the mountains, gradually approaching the back of the barn. The light on the southern side of the valley sets in shafts, akin to the front of an old fretted radio front. As the sun envelopes the slope the grass lets off steams as if the sun is vaporising everything in its path. By 9:20 it hits the small outhouse which is our home streaming in the front window. So we missed it again.

After 11 hrs sleep we got up and set to breakfast and making a packed lunch. Off for a walk. The forecast was for thunderstorms later but we went for it anyway. Drove down through Salau to Couflens without stopping at the skip, turned left and made our way up to Col de la Pause (1563m) where we abandoned the van and set off on foot to Port D’Aula (2260m).

There is a 4×4 track all the way up or, as we did, you can cut off a lot of the bends by following the GR10. It takes in a couple of beautiful lakes and by one of them, Etang Areau, they are building a new refuge. Great views of Mont Valier on the way up.

Just under 2 hrs to the top where we tucked into our sandwiches. Thunder combined with a cold wind made for a short lunch stop before heading back down to the van where Breezy and I picked a few handfuls of bilberries for our desert this evening.

Hot showers under the tree back at the barn. Now I need to do something with lardons and pasta

.