Hotel Apsis Luchon Bagneres De Luchon

Un petit TP de deux jours dans les Pyrénées dans le cadre du cours de Fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Bon...les écosystèmes du sud de la France étaient un petit peu décevant, mais les paysages étaient vraiment beaux.

La plus haute altitude à laquelle on s'est rendu : 2200 m

... from the French side, knowing that just on the other side was the Ordessa Canyon that we had walked 3 days early.

Back at the Hotel Chili, Sue defended her title as mini-golf champion, even though all the obsticals had been removed. After dinner, Sue checked out the ...

... They don't have the same impact only because getting to the base is a longer walk. But they are big!! Apparently it is a popular ice climbing destination. Yikes!!

         

... line, 150 KM by car. Back at our car around 2, we set off on a driving tour of one small section of the Spanish Pyrennees. Amazing! We were very glad to have done it. Once we got back to the French side we spent most of time driving along Tour de France roads. Amazing to ...

... cute main town. Clearly, rock climbing is very popular in this area. In the photos, play "spot the climber."

                 

On Sunday, we checked into new home, Hotel Chili, which is all self-contained apartments. The accommodation was simple but was made up for by the giant lawn with Mini-Golf course, free range chickens, and playground within walking distance. And FREE LAUNDRY!!! Needless to say, Sue was in heaven. We played Mini-golf that night and Sue kicked Tom's butt. Embarrassing...

       

Not necessarily because I want to, because I need to. Results day is the 20th and I am better placed in the UK where I can act quickly if needed. In addition it has dawned on me like the proverbial penny dropping that I don't want to be alone for good or bad news. That ...

... for the mist. At times the route was a little scary tackling the rock fields. I didn't carry enough food and I hadn't really had enough to eat yesterday, so I was as keen as mustard (I'd have eaten mustard rather) to get to Luchon asap. So when the cable car came into view (I was one metre away to be able to see it) I considered my options; 2 more hours of descent or 5 euros 90 and down in a jiffy? What do you think? Okay my tent was ...

Hi Gang
I'm making some progress following a well needed rest day yesterday at Lac de l'Oredon. However I made up for the rest day today with nearly 1500 metres of descent, I thought my knees would start to scream as I took each step down (like a moth as it burns itself touching a hot bulb).

No crisis to report, but I thought I'd mention the fauna I've seen since trekking the GR10:

Snake - type unknown, I didn't hang around to find out, but it was big enough to do ...

... the people, including the baker, were very friendly. Not much english spoken here but we managed to get by with Jacquie's slowly returning french skills. I was just happy that I wasn't escorted out of town immediately upon giving my name at the hotel. Never know what the family had been up to in the 1800's. Well that about does it for France. We are going to head north again, this time to Belgium for a visit with Jacquie's friend Sophie. Still travelling well Jacquie and Dave