‘M off….bus wnkr hike.

[Davey B]

Chapeau. Keep us posted with how it's going...and how you feel..which perhaps oddly, I like to read the personal aspects of these trips just as much as the scenery pics.
I wish you'd done some reporting on your other recent endeavours (My humble apologies if you did, and I missed them)
All the very best! Oh, and Hydration !!!!!!

 

[OnHellas]

Chapeau. Keep us posted with how it's going...and how you feel..which perhaps oddly, I like to read the personal aspects of these trips just as much as the scenery pics.
I wish you'd done some reporting on your other recent endeavours (My humble apologies if you did, and I missed them)
All the very best! Oh, and Hydration !!!!!!

I didn’t report on the other trips despite someone requesting one on the month in France on the bicycles, sorry.

I’ll try and tell you how I feel, even if it does get shitty, rather than making it an ‘Instagram’ everything’s Briliaaaant!

Hydration, absolutely! I have a 1.5 litre bladder that I can drink from on the go.
I have a Sawyer Squeeze water filter so that I can top up from lakes and rivers as I go.
I have a 2 litre CNOC bag to collect the water and filter it from. That’s a NEVER to drink from bag, but I obviously have the capability of carrying the 2 litres of unfiltered water if I’m in an area, nearer the coast (if I hat that far) by all accounts.
I also have a 500ml plastic bottle to use filtered water and a rehydrate tablet each day.

I’m sure that there’s still a load of naivety in there too.

I made it to Bielsa by midday. The Taxi guys were busy but my thumb worked after about an hour and trying a few different spots.
A French chap from Bordeaux picked me up, he was going to Bielsa, perfect.
I gave him a €20 contribution. That should buy him a half decent lunch somewhere.

I bought a few more supplies and then walked to the campsite. The tent is up and my gear is back to being sorted after all being dragged out by the customs guy at St Pancras.

It’s lunchtime now so I think I’ll have a decent feed, it’s been ham rolls from home this far.

 

[OnHellas]

Right then. Day 1 of the walk done.
Up early, got packed up and had something fairly underwhelming for breakfast, topped up the water bladder and waited for the Taxi to take me to the gate of the Parador de Bielsa.
He arrived early and by 7.35 I was away. Up up and away. No flat bit to warm up with just straight in the climb.
Once out of the trees the mountains remained hidden behind clouds so I just kept going.
After an hour or so I met Laura and Juan, we walked and chatted for a while and they certainly helped later.
Whilst chatting the mountains revealed themselves and Wow! They didn’t disappoint.
The elevation gain for today was just under 1000 meters and the loss just over.
An Eagle and some Marmots were the wildlife highlights of the day.

I reached Parzán 10 minutes before the first large drops of rain fell. Whilst I went for the full chubup the rain intensified and the thunderstorm began.

This is where my sensible head prevailed. The weather forecast for tonight is not very good, tomorrow’s is awful.
So, after the food and sitting there contemplating what to do….Laura walked in. She arrived in the rain so her and Juan were a bit wet but in high spirits as their five day hike was at an end…her mum had driven from Barcelona to collect them and there was room in the car for me.
Booking.com found me a room so here I am. And although I’ve only done one day tomorrow will be a ‘rest’ day as thunderstorms, hiking and camping up high don’t mix in my book if it can be avoided.
I very lucky that I don’t have a time limit on this.

All in all a good day. Nothing to complain about, no negatives.

 

[Udders]

Fantastic views!

 

[geotim]

Smart move.

No medals for being uncomfortable, steady, steady wins the race…

(That climb sounds mental…)

 

[OnHellas]

Smart move.

No medals for being uncomfortable, steady, steady wins the race…

(That climb sounds mental…)

I think that it’s me that’s mental. That sort of elevation gain and loss will be a daily occurrence on this trail….unless I’m in a hotel room in Bielsa

 

[OnHellas]

I’m back to phone signal & WiFi.

I left Bielsa yesterday morning planning to walk to Parzán. The 188 meter tunnel on the main road has a no pedestrians sign.
With a small pavement and a head torch I was going to go for it….but a bloke in a Fiat 500 pulled up and told me that it would be dangerous.
Long and the short of it, me and my rucksack filled the little car for the 4km journey back to where I was a couple of days back.

So, off I went. Like everyday in the GR11 there is a lot of up. It was fairly gradual a lot of it on forest tracks rather than narrow mountain paths.
I met a Belgian chap doing the path in the opposite direction and his report of the campsite that I was planning to use wasn’t all that.
I chanced a burger when I got there, no adverse affects thankfully, not much taste either but hey, it fuel.
I also stopped at the Refugio that marked the end of the ‘stage’ as per my guide book.
The site of a load of people drinking beer made sure that I didn’t ask to see if there was a bed. Being that camping an isn’t allowed at the Refugio, I had another rest and a cold drink before heading up again.
Another 500 meters of elevation taking me above 2000 meters where camping is permitted between 8pm and 8am.

The camp spot I found was OK, not quite level enough but it was next to a river so happy days.
Over 1900 meters climbed.

 

[geotim]

Cracking!

More hills?!?!?!

 

[OnHellas]

I nearly managed a smile in that photo.

I woke up today not sure if it was still raining so stayed in bed a bit longer.
I eventually set off at 07.40. Straight into another 500 meters of elevation gain to a col.

The how I feel question comes in here.
I’ve been so incredibly fortunate to have been on quite a few long distance/time scale trips. On motorcycle, on foot and a new one this year, by bicycle.
I’m well versed in that the trip takes as long as it takes, you can’t do it all in one day.

However, the enormity of this walk has been fairly daunting over the last couple of days. Maybe it’s because I haven’t got into the rhythm of it yet. Maybe a year after bailing out from my first attempt I’ve romanticised the whole “GR11” thing.
The downs are as hard as the ups a lot of the time. Not so much on the lungs but full concentration is required. The opportunity to hurt yourself is all around.

Anyway, I’ve met some great people already. I’m happy at the end of each day, tired by happy.
On the going I have been hating it and loving it too. The views are just stunning.
Will I make it to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast???

I’m currently at Camping Aneto about 3km north of Benasque. Some of you may have been here, it’s a good campsite.
I’m in the bar, no beer for me, charging my phone…the price? Listening to the absolute shite pumping out of the multiple speakers.

Only a 1500 meter gain tomorrow!!

 

[brut33]

Good one Paul I'm enjoying this, I hope everything keeps going well for you. Some stunning scenery you're walking through and great photos.

 

[OnHellas]

Apologies to all of you that have read, followed and encouraged on this endeavour.
Yesterday morning I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the tent.
Yesterday morning I couldn’t feel the joy of panting up and over another mountain pass.
Yesterday morning I decided to stop and do something else.
Yesterday morning I phoned her in doors and suggested that she book a flight to The Algarve…she did.
Yesterday morning I booked my bus and train tickets to the same.
On Friday I’ll be sitting in the sunshine like a stunned mullet.
On Saturday I hope I’ll not be dreaming of hiking the GR11 in The Pyrenees.

On a serious and truthful note, I think that I like all of the elements of hiking in the mountains but added together it’s a bit beyond my capabilities. I don’t have to do it, when the dislike outweighs the like it’s time to stop.

However:-
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

---

I appreciate you reading my posts.

 

[stever1]

Apologies to all of you that have read, followed and encouraged on this endeavour.
Yesterday morning I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the tent.
Yesterday morning I couldn’t feel the joy of panting up and over another mountain pass.
Yesterday morning I decided to stop and do something else.
Yesterday morning I phoned her in doors and suggested that she book a flight to The Algarve…she did.
Yesterday morning I booked my bus and train tickets to the same.
On Friday I’ll be sitting in the sunshine like a stunned mullet.
On Saturday I hope I’ll not be dreaming of hiking the GR11 in The Pyrenees.

On a serious and truthful note, I think that I like all of the elements of hiking in the mountains but added together it’s a bit beyond my capabilities. I don’t have to do it, when the dislike outweighs the like it’s time to stop.

However:-
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

---

I appreciate you reading my posts.

The main thing is, you had a go. You tried the challenge.
Far better than many of us who never challenge ourselves.

 

[Davey B]

No apologies needed...you did more than 99% of people. Enjoy the Algarve!

 

[Jockser]

Sorry to hear that, was quite enjoying the Walk Report
But you're right to call it if it no longer feels right
Fair play for attempting it, you're a better man than I

 

[brut33]

No need to apologise, it takes more to call it a day than carry on and get into problems. It's been a success because you know when to pack in.
By the sound of it your trip is still looking great. I wish I remembered the name of a bar I visited last year, the beer was sublime and something to look forward to when you get to Seville. I'm sure you'll find a suitable establishment for a cold one. Enjoy.