Sculpture at the Tour de France services
Tour de France
Don't they normally wear shorts ?
Our tent - first campsite, Gourette
First beer - campsite, Gourette
Campsite at Gourette
Gourette was closed for business
View from the Tourist Information centre, Gourette
Our first pass, the Col de Tortes
Typical Day 2 view
Ditto
Road tunnel, Tour de France Col d'Aubisque route
Tour de France information board
Mountain scenery above Arrens-Marsous
Old footbridge at the entrance to Arrens
Leaving the campsite, Arrens-Marsous
Mountain churchyard
Le Lac d'Estaing
Water stop, en route to Col d'Ilheou
Looking back at the Pic du Midi D'Arrens
Geoff contemplates "The Valley of Death"
"The valley of death", never-ending climb up to the Col d'Ilheou
Looking back from the Col
Amanda and Iain - happy to be at the top !
Our overnight refuge comes into sight
Early morning view from the Refuge d'Ilheou
Climbing up to the Col dela Haugade
Looking back down to the Lac d'Ilheou
View from the Col
Sheffield Andy contemplates the early morning view
More views from the Col de la Haugade
Thistle
Valley beyond the Pont d'Espagne
OK ladies ... left hoof forward
Waterfall,
Looking up the Vallee de Gaube towards Vignemale
From the far end of the lake, looking back
And again ..
Low cloud as we approach the Refuge des Oulettes
Even lower cloud as we .....
The end of a long day, Refuge des Oulettes
Le Petit Vigemale appears as the mist rises
Above the clouds on Petit Vignemale
The climb continues
Getting closer to the top
Almost there
The successful summiteers
Ready to get going again after Chocolat Chaudes all round ..
Rock pattern
Carolyn disappears into thin air ...
La vache blonde ?
Back to civilisation at Gavarnie
Early morning Cirque de Gavarnie
La Cirque
Steve ...
... and Carolyn approach the Grande Cascade
Hello sailor ! Carolyn and Marilyn
The end of the path - the Grande Cascade. Carolyn, Andy-the-Limp, Marilyn and Margaret
Marilyn is relieved to be heading back down
One last shot of Gavarnie and the cirque ...
Spent thistle head
Hay meadows and mountains
Local architecture
Ritchie ... contemplating ...
Open view of the valley
A distant Breche de Roland
Typical GR10 marker in the forest
Heading down to St Bazerque
The locals look worried
Les Thermes, Luz
Le Pont Napoleon
Promenade de Henry Dunant (founder of the Red Cross)
Church above Luz
So folks, do we take the hot, tough, rocky route ... or do we take the easy route with villages, pubs and ice creams ?
Oh yes, and dogs !!
Village route !! Church tower, Vielha.
L'Hermitage St Martin
Not far to Bareges
Preparing for the barbeque
Iain supervises as Ritchie plays "Dad" for the evening
Colourful table decoration
Rugged valley bottom, Valle de Tourmalet
The lake of a thousand fish
Shane considers risking his toes ...
... while everyone else sticks to higher ground.
Ritchie watching for vultures
Looking back - below Col de Madamete
Pic de Madamete (2657 metres)
The lake at the edge of the world
Italian Andy - finally getting the hang of tea time !
Dinner in the car park in the clouds
Ready for an early morning departure
Watching the cloud rise
Pete takes a breather
More spectacular scenes
Descending to the reservoir
Andy B and friend
The locals pay us no attention
Old house, Vielle-Aure
Vielle-Aure
Steve-of-the-long-legs
Madonna
Looking back to St Lary-Soulan
The happy couple !
Mountain view, Azet
Andy Sheffield looking small in the Pyrenees
View from the path
Look harmless, don't they?
The path above Loudenvielle
River crossing, Loudenvielle
No comment necessary !
Iain has started to get a taste for the local plonk
Leaving Loudenvielle
Fine views
Crossing the landslide
OK, form two orderly rows ...
... and you thought the Valley of Death was tough !
Carolyn tops up her energy levels
You know what happens after a long ascent ....
Looking back up at the col
Early morning reflections on Lac D'Oo
Steep climb above the Lac
Another summit party
A lonely path, Cirque d'Espingo
GR10 marker
Carolyn relaxes after a long climb
... so does Andy
Last leg before Superbangeres
... and relax ...
Ski lift down to Luchon
Carolyn grins-and-bears-it
Les Thermes, Luchon
Waiting for Freddy !
Geoff looks apprehensive
The first party head for the hills
A little worried ?
Nah !!
The parapenting commences !
Perfect conditions for it
Carolyn (and Eric)
Carolyn (red) and Iain (yellow)
Coming in to land ...
... ready ... get set to run as you hit the ground ...
... or maybe not !!