Early start, up at 645am and away and walking bu 645am. I slept OK but Al not so well, he was a bit cold. We decided to get going and have breakfast on the frontier.

The ground was bone dry so the hike up was very easy. Still fairly steep and some boulder hopping on the way but all pretty easy and under 2 hours we had reached the border and had fantastic views of the Pyrenees and into Spain. How lucky to sit and have breakfast at 845am with blue skies, not a cloud in sight and no wind.

We had decided not to do the summit this time as we knew we had a long day ahead and were unsure of how tricky the terrain ahead along the ridge would be so we veered off towards Cap de Ruhos which we could see in the distance, it looked a long way away and there was so sharp, rugged looking peaks on the way.

What a superb ridge walk/scramble. We headed down to Col de Mail, over to Pic des Rouges, looked over the Cirque D’Anglade and on to Pic de Montareing. This was all reasonable terrain, rock was good and not too loose and we made good progress. The final ridge bit on to Pic de Montagnoule looked more intimidating but once we got going no need for the rope to come out of the bag and conditions could not have been better for us.

Lunch much needed at the summit with not a soul in sight perfecto. Maps out looking at the views and piecing together the mountains always fun. Tomato, cucumber and tortilla wraps were devoured as we were starving.

The descent we had forgotten what steep descents are like, 2.45 hours down and knees and feet had had enough! but it was worth it.

Thank goodness that Vinnie was at the mine waiting for us rather than adding another hours walk on back to the barn. Instead we popped in to see Anouk and say we were back safe and sound, had a few rehydarting drinks and then back up to the barn.

Hot showers….NEEDED big time,  unpack, cook food and bed. We had guinea fowl but sadly had no energy to do anythign special with it except roast it with veggies from the garden and spuds.

Great couple of days, would do again but would prefer a zip wire for the descent!!!!

Another glorious day so we decided to do a little work before brekky and the sun hit us.

I set too with the strimmer on the bracken which we are gradually getting the better of. Al had the more unpleasant job of de composting the toilet!

Breakfast in the sun on the bottom terrace for a change before we started planning the terrace layout behind the new wall. Alison and Peter popped in for a coffee and a chat and before we knew it, it was lunchtime.

We had planned an early lunch as heading up the hill afterwards. So a good salad and pates and cheeses to get us fuelled up ready for the ascent to the cabane just below Mt Rouch.

The usual STEEP climb  up for 2.5 hours. Avalanche debris blocked the path at one stage which made the deviation rather treacherous.  There is not much flat in the 2.5hours but we just took our time especially as we had heavy packs with ropes, harnesses and wood for the stove.

We arrived just behind 4 other people BOO, last time we were here we had the place to ourselves and we just presumed that would be the case. Anyway it did not matter in the end. 8 people so no need for a fire and consequnetly lugged the firewood up there for no reason….anyway somebody else will thank us for it on a cold night!

We had made a rice, sausage and veggie meal all cooked and as there was no gas this time we just had it cold but with the chillits etc it was scrummy. We sat outside playing cards, having supper etc until 730pm in shorts and T shirts as it was a gorgeous evening, no wind and hot hot hot perfecto.

In the end 3 of the Frenchies decided on sleeping outside which meant we could have slept on the bed but number 4 Frenchman did not seem too hospitable so we slept on mattresses on the floor, not the most comfortable nights sleep.

We have wanted to do the Pujada for ages. Last year it rained so we decided that DIY was a safer option. Essentially the Pujada is the day when the Catalan people come up to the Port de Salau from their side and the Ariegoise come up from their side. They all say hello, exchange a few presents, share some wine and cheese, play music and dance, then trundle back down into their respective countries.

When we woke up the cloud was down though the forecast was good. Kettle went on for my coffee and the oven went on for the cobs and Breezy to bake a cake. We made a packed lunch, had breakfast and headed off at about 9am up the valley.

When we go up to the col there must have been a couple of hundred people. We were just in time for the welcome speeches at 1130 after which we settled into our picnic and watched as everyone started sharing the wine and cheese etc etc.

Got back to the barn about 330pm and set about preparation for walling tomorrow plus checking out the veggie situation in the garden.

Having collected beans, mangetout and red currants we took a bottle and headed down to the river for a glass of fizz in the last of the sun.

Think that omelette and salad is on the cards for this evening as neither of us is very hungry.

Another glorious day. After brekky on the terrace big fruit salad and coffees we headed off to go for a walk and a picnic. Quite difficult finding a not too steep a walk around here but I think we succeeded today.

We strolled up to the cirque, stopping and seeing loads of wild orchids, butterflies and flowers on the way. When we got up to the meadow areas where it all opens out it was looking the best we have ever seen it. About 4 waterfalls full with snowmelt which is still pouring off the mountains, in sunshine offering FAB views. We found a good picnic spot right by the river with some shade and some sun. Sandwiches, fruit and chocolate and chilled beer well deserved.

The walk back down we continued to see lots of flowers and butterflies of all sizes and colours, should have bought my butterfly book with me!!!

We stopped at the auberge on the way back for a couple of drinks before back to the barn for solar showers, yet to hear what Dad thought of it!!!! and now we are about to prep for a meat paella for supper tonight. Lovely day and so pleased the weather has been kind to us this year for Dad unlike last year where it was fairly wet and miserable.

Another early start and another glorious day. Had a basic hut breakfast but lots of coffee for Al which is always the main thing! and we wer out the door at 745am and in the sun about 15 minutes later. It was lovely just being up high, early and in such glorious weather. We were really lucky to see 2 Chamois just 10 minutes from the hut.

It was an easy 300m climb up to Col de Certascan at roughly 2500m where we met 2 local French guys and then a slightly steeper ascent up to the summit of Certascan 2853m, incredible views all around and again great to be able to piece together a bit more of the area down here. Great to be up at the top by 930am! but now only 18oom descent!

Let the challenges begin. We had chatted to the guardian of ridge options etc so knew the route towrds Tuc de Montabona was going to be quite tricky scrambling but weather was good and we felt like giving it a go. the 2 French guys and their lovely dog were heading off the same way initially. The first part was very loose rock and we really were very careful on hand and foot placement. The French guys knocked off some rocks and the speed the rocks went down and the distance made us even more sure footed. We kept our distance from them and opted to scramble around on the sunny side away from them so not to knock anything on to them either. Really good fun scrambling but not to be done in bad weather at all. It took us a couple of hours scrambling down.

We could see Tuc de Montabona but that was beyond us from this angle without ropes so we skirted to the ridge to the right of the summit boulder hopping on huge granite boulders great grippy rock.

From the ridge we had options for the descent back down. We had found the cairned path towards Etang Hilette but we opted to make a full circuit skirting above Etang Alet and back to Vinnie. The path we did not find until 3/4 of the way along it or off it as such but we kept trundling at roughly the altitude where the path was and did find it in the end.  Again wonderful views which my words can’t describe at all. We had lunch at around 2pm just above the Cabane Lacarde.

The rest of the 2 hours down was not great, very steep and not a great path, our knees hurt!!!! We did find some bilberries on the way down so stopped for 20 mins to pick and make a tart with them but the knees were worse after that getting down. I think we were both happy when the last 2 hours were over, feet were out of boots and we had new clothes on!!!! A fabulous 2 days away batteries re charged and bodies suitably pooped!!!!

We stopped and caught up with Anouk and Jean Claude at the bar on the way home which was a nice finale.

It was then full on back at the barn, hot showers, brambles to pick, e mails to respond to, dinner to make, kit to unpack and fizz to eat with supper!!!! An even better way to end our mini break. We will sleep well tonight!

So something we have been thinking about for ages was to head into Spain walking and have a night in a refuge in Spain. Maps had been browsed and plans made. We had already changed dates  due to bad weather but the forecast for the next 2 days was good so we decided to make a go of it.

Early start 6am up, fruit salad made up for brekky on arrival, butties made for lunch and out the door by 7am.

We headed to Cirque to Cagateille parking as the start point. Yummy fruit and yoghurt brekky once we got there to get us going for the day. We have done the walk up to Etang Hilette before but never any higher up. We were feeling fresh and raring to go and made good time up to Etang Hilette and Col de Couillac in roughly 3.5 hours up 1400m. We were luckily in the shade most of the way up which made things much easier. Views from the Col were stunning although a little hazy. Overlooking Spain you have some wonderful picturesque lakes to look at and walk past. Too early for lunch at the Col so we thought we would aim for the middle lake for lunch. the hazy sunshine disappeared and full on sun returned for us which was  gorgeous, sitting by the lakes taking in the new views and just going WOW! a really gorgeous area.

We then had a tiny col to go over and we could then see the Refugio Certascan perched on a rocky outcrop just above a stunning waterfall.

It was lovely to have the time to sit at the col with map out and piece bits and pieces together.  An easy traverse across to the refugio where we sat in the sun and relaxed. A 4o bedded refugio run by the same chap for 30 years. Clean and warm with good food. We were the first to arrive but there were also 2 French lads we had dinner with who had come the same way as us and also a group of 8 retired Frenchies on a 2-3 days hike too in Spain. Good atmosphere and we slept well after a good meal.