Thursday 18 September 2008

14/09/08 - Feeling the elements

It was rather hard getting up this morning as the night had brought
snow to the hills above us, and unfortunately the clear blue sky that
we ordered hadn't quite arrived yet!! A look across to the other side
of the valley, showed us that we should be over there instead, as
there was a big patch of sunshine that just wasn't budging - hopefully
it will wait for us.

A quick stop for bread in Puigcerdá turned into an hour's stroll
through the streets of the old, but obviously expanding town. Then we
headed up the Spanish end of the valley to the village of Meranges for
our next walk into the hills.

That patch of sunshine still hadn't moved, so at last we were able to
feel a little bit of heat from the day. Marea enjoyed it from the
bottom as she chose a restful afternoon, while I would have appeciated
a bit of shade, as the track steeply climbed up the valley.

At first I thought I was lost as there were no beehives as per
instructed, (I still couldn't find the damm things on the way down) -
but the remaining instructions started falling into place as the
walk/climb headed up past a group of horses with bells on, then out of
the sheltered area and into the high exposed spots. Time for a few
more clothes, as the cold wind whistled down from the peaks.

I managed to disturb a family of Marmots that all scurried across the
grassland disappearing, one by one, into an obviously large hole, if
they can all fit into it together! A quick stop in the Refuge Girona
to have a nosy around, then the last little climb to Engorgs - a
series of little lakes sitting at about 2,500 metres.

I sheltered behind a rock from the wind, and had a chat with a
Scotsman who was walking the length of the Pyrenees (now that would be
something cool to do!!) - it was then time to return before darkness
arrived. Easily done, as it was all downhill of course!!

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