~ Stage2~ Olhette to Sare.

~ Route Finding ~

• The GRs or "Grande Randonnee" criss-cross France. The GR10 traverses the Pyrenees from coast to coast ~ a distance of some 800km and taking approx 46 days.
• A series of 4 "Topo-guides" are published by the FFRP (Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre) ~ and are available in shops along the route.
• Each guide gives
  • a section by section description of the path ~ in French!
  • pages with 1:50,000 IGN maps with the route outlined in red.
  • I tore these out for each day and kept them readily available in my glasses case.
• There is a guide book in English to the whole route by Alan Castle ~ Cicerone Press; ISBN: 1852842458 ~ and obtainable from Amazon.co.uk.
• Best of all the whole path is marked with red and white paint stripes on: ~ rocks ~ trees ~ posts ~ etc ~ They become like wayside shrines and you say a blessing to each! I could write a page about them ~ but won't. ~ Those who have walked the GRs will know what I mean.
• Also of use are the IGN 1:50,000 carte de randonnees ~ covering the Pyrenese in 11 maps. They allow a much wider (and sometimes more up-to-date) picture of the terrain ~ and allow you to vary the route.
• Need I mention a compass ~ experience ~ and asking for directions (in French).

La Rhune.

View From La Rhune back to Hendaye.

An easy ~ well maybe middling ~ walk down off the hill ~ through old high woods ~ down in the valley with the river to a long deserted mossy fronteer post ~ then climb out into the hot sun and a view up to La Rhune.
Back to the valley again ~ and my bigest climb ~ 1500ft ~ OK if I kept it slow ~ and finally a shady view back to Hendaye. Climb? ~ yes you have to in the Pyrenees! Down through the woods ~ over the mountain railway ~ and a long rest under a tree. WOW it is HOT. ~ I finally made Sare, and a bar. Shopping for the night ~ a Basque cake!, almonds and jam ~ and a long, very hot walk to the campsite which was all closed up ~ and me with nothing left ~ but a kindly man let me stay in his orchard ~ An angel ~

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Page created: 18th July 1988. Last modified: 26th October 1998.