Living the Life in the Great Outdoors
trekking, hikking, travelling
The early morning starts continued and where was it best to view the sunrise or the early morning mist but from the top of a hill! By this stage as I was now in the foothills of the Pyrenees there were plenty of hill top views to be had. There is something about the changing …
Continue reading “Tales From the Via Podiensis-l) Finally the end is in sight”
There were always new sights every day on the GR 65 to behold. I can remember stopping and gazing at one small lake prior to Maslacq one morning. The reason I stopped was because this particular lake had both the greatest number and variety of water birds that I had come across so far on …
Continue reading “Tales from the Via Podiensis-k) The Pyrenees Foothills”
It was always nice to walk alongside water first thing in the morning as the sun was rising with the mist not as yet fully cleared. Some of the lakes were in fact reservoirs and the other major positive was that they also attracted various birdlife (which in some cases was protected). In between the …
By heading out in the mornings at first light I was continually amazed at some of the sights that I witnessed. On one occasion it was an early morning duck parade (pictured below), where the ducks that had been housed in farm sheds overnight were being let out to go and graze in nearby fields …
Continue reading “Tales from the Via Podiensis – i) From the Gers to Les Landes”
The early morning starts continue, with there sometimes being mist as I set off in the half light. I pass some more ponds which contain either croaking frogs or frogs making a rapid exit to safety hence avoiding being photographed! They are too quick for me. Every now and then I passed another poignant reminder …
Continue reading “Tales from the Via Podiensis -h) The Department of the Gers”
My most vivid memory of crossing the Garonne river is that I slipped on the footpath on the bridge. So to avoid falling sideways onto the road in front of a passing car I threw myself forward and landed on one knee! Fortunately it was a short distance to the nearby bastide town of Auvillar. …
Continue reading “Tales from the Via Podiensis -g) From the Garonne into the Department of the Gers”
This stage of the Via Podiensis was marked by fields containing crops, along with the hilltop villages that have existed since medieval times and another UNESCO listed Cathedral. So there were more hills to climb, more eglises to stop and rest in and of course the views. Of note the bastide villages and towns are …
This is one of the more barren less inhabited sections of the Via Podiensis which contains evidence of human settlement that extends back to Neolithic times. By continuing along the classic GR 65 route this took me through southern part of the Causses du Quercy following my departure from Cajarc The one thing I remember …
Continue reading “Tales from the Via Podiensis-e) The Causses du Quercy of the Lot Department”
If you think that this section of the Via Podiensis is all about walking alongside the Lot river, then think again! Although one comes across the Lot at times, and I crossed it via various bridges, most of the time was spent walking in the hills of what is the northern Aveyron in order to …
Continue reading “Tales from Via Podiensis – d) Passing through the Aveyron region”
If you have only a couple of weeks to walk along the Via Podiensis in France (the GR 65), then the section that crosses from the Lozere region into the Aveyron is a must. It has everything, scenery, medieval architecture, good company (as there are plenty of hikers on this section) and great towns to …
Living the Life in the Great Outdoors