Blog Page 8 - messages sent back from internet cafes on the trail

"Planned rest day 7. After well over 2 weeks, 140 miles and nearly "2 Everests" we have nearly finished the magnificent Ariège region. We have survived walking every inch of the complete and circuitous GR10 Ariège trail, the extreme remoteness of some of the walks (for horror film buffs, echoes of The Blairwitch Project), nearly 2 hours of somewhat vertiginous ledge paths in blazing heat, a high, exposed morning ridge walk with thunder, rain and lightning, an 8 hour trudge through fog, cold and drizzle on a day where we'd looked forward to stunning views from a long ridge and, above all, the almost total lack of accommodation / food shops on this whole section of the GR10. Our success has only been possible thanks to the enormous kindness of our friend Peter Walter and our camper van. For the last 2 weeks he has met us each evening with tent and food to ease our carrying load. In addition his company and cheerful helpfulness have provided invaluable encouragement. Mille fois merci!!" - 1st August