Tuesday 17 July 2007

Arinsal - Andorra




Just a quick post before the shops close for Siesta!

I have passed into Andorra, and like when I crossed into France the trail greetings change almost immediately from one language to another!

For those who are reading this that may do the trek the Refuge at Easton is open, although small it is modern, friendly and good value. The longest day of the walk can now be made more manageable.

There are two french guys I should mention that appear from time to time. They are doing this on the cheap, and wild-camp each night living on biscuits and tea. The first time I met them they told me they share a tent but ´we are not homosexual´ and I keep reminding them if this is still the case. They sold there tent peg hammer for 2 beers, and walked for miles looking for somewhere to deposit the empties. I saw them trying to dump them behind a refuge high in the hills when the owner came out and berated them in French. Then humbly picked up the bottles and walked off. The next morning opened the door to the refuge and found the two bottles neatly left on the doorstep.

I met a bright young french girl called Cami walking the other way, who bounced into the campsite having just done about 20k and climbed 1200m. She told me they where still out there but looking very thin.

Last night I kipped in a mountain hut called Refugio de Baiau which is 2600m up and basically a metal box held to the side of a mountain by 10 heavy steel cables pinned into the rock. It has 9 bunks and a little cooking area. Two lakes 70m below provide water and is ringed by several 3000m+ mountains. I shared it with 5 French people and impressed them with my English cuisine. Fresh garlic, tomatoes, onion and pepper lightly fried in olive oil, with pasta and chorizo sausage, followed by bread and cheese. It was good.

My flip flops are the only other casualty since my last post, but duck tape is holding them together. Climbing a large hill I suffered a minor disaster when I realised I had eaten my last werthers original. These splendid little treats from home where a daily pick me up whenever I feel homesick. It was too late to turn back, the nearest town being days away, so I somehow made it to the next town.

Regards to all at home, Barrie.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Barrie, good to hear how it's going. I know walking day after day can grind you down, but you seem to keep a sense of humour.

I'm about to do a couple of weeks of the gr10 E-W next month, so am following your trip with interest.
Guy from Nottingham

Anonymous said...

Barrie, it's a wonder your wife lets you out on your own. People are asking after you and I tell them you haven't been eaten by any bears ...yet. Apparently if you run in a zig zags you can out run them - and if there aren't any bears there it might work equally as well with marmots. Keep walking and see you in Barca for a well deserved cervaza and a plate of chilli roulette, perhaps (which should help settle your Arabian Nights). MC.