Up to 1300m and back to the GR10

> Day 26 Saturday 22nd May
> Arreau to Germ 9 miles
> It's been a very strenuous day with lots of ascents and descents and
> very hot but luckily much of the walking was through oak woods once
> I'd got the first 4 miles on the road out of the way. There's a lot
> to be said for walking in woods when the sun is beating down but it
> does have it's disadvantages - it cuts down the breeze and if the
> ground is covered with a thick layer of dried leaves it's difficult
> to keep your footing. There's also the issue of getting round all
> the fallen trees making it all much more physical. But I wouldn't
> have missed it for the world. The views have been spectacular and
> I've finished up after 8 and a half hours of walking surrounded by
> magnificent mountains. This is what I've come for.
> And I've passed through Mont, a village I visited first in 1964 on
> a French exchange and formed a lasting and very close relationship
> with the family who unfortunatley weren't here today but it was
> still an emotional moment.
> Tomorrow will be another challenging day - about the same distance,
> over 1000m of ascent and descent (taking me to over 2100m) and more
> high temperatures. And it looks as though less of it will be through
> trees so less shade. So I'm planning an early start with a 7am
> breakfast and am therefore about to crash out once I've got the wifi
> to work.