Dieppe - Last day and Ferry

I parked up in Dieppe not far from the coast. It was quite a busy area, must have been part of a coastline walk.

Soon i needed a poo so i had to go out and look for a bush. There were still a fair few people about so i didn't want to go to a bush too close to the path in case someone's dog or kids ran in while i was squeezin it out. Eventually i had to climb half way down a grassy bank, by the edge of a cliff. There were actually wild strawberries growing here which was pretty cool but i was kinda distracted by more urgent matters. I crawled through some brambles into the bush. It was kinda awkward cause it was on a slope. I got it done without anyone seeing which is the main thing.

I was woken up in the middle of the night by someone knocking on my window. I thought it was probably the police. I'd nearly managed to go a whole two months without a single encounter and they get me on the last night! I just ignored them and they went away.

Then only a few minutes later they came back. Wtf. I looked out the window and it wasn't the police. It was jus two random guys, one in his 20s and the other one coulda been almost 40. They said 'hello my friend' a couple times. They didn't sound French. Then they said bonjour and i definitely knew they weren't french. Not only because of the accent but it was about 12 am.

I thought they probably just want money or something. I'd gone the whole trip without using any cash, only card. So i didn't have any.

Then one of them noticed my trainers under me van. I don't keep them inside cos they stink. He started pulling them out from under the van. I nearly jumped out at this point but they are old and falling apart so wasnt that bothered.

They walked off with them. But then i remembered im going to a festival as soon as i get back and my other trainers are decent so don't wanna wreck them.

I decided to drive after them. Almost immediately i saw my trainers on the road. I'm surprised they managed to hang on to them for that long to be honest.

Then right at the end of my head light beams i could see a group of them sitting on a bench. I went to get my trainers, i'm also completely naked because the past week its been too hot at night. I had to walk infront of the head lights and i could see them lookin over. "Oh look its stinkin trainers naked guy, come to get his stinkin trainers."
Then i jus drove into town and parked somewhere else.

The next day I got the ferry. I went to sit down on my own by a window. I had been drawing on my tablet for nearly an hour before the ferry even started moving.

But jus before it started, a woman with two kids came and asked if they could sit here. I said it was ok, but it wasnt really.

I don't like kids cos they don't know how to mind their own bidnis. One of them was sitting opposite me on the table watching me draw. Gradually getting closer and closer. Pretty soon he was leaning so far over, his head covering the view of my screen and his hair was in my mouth.

Luckily the mother could see me getting distressed and moved or they could have caught a whiff of my trainers, who knows.

Belin-Béliet

Seen this snake. Think it's a Western Whip snake.

Pool frog

It was also 35 degrees yesterday, my car does exaggerate a bit but it was still hot.

I know the dates wrong but i haven't got round to changing it.

Grotte d'Eaux Chaudes

This was a pretty cool cave. It had some questionable formations.

Looked like there used to be a walk way going through it. Which almost completely rotted away. Still walked along it though.

Totally safe.

Only one piece missing.

Couple of steps missing but its ok.

Like it was built yesterday!

Could do with a lick of paint.

This piece is showing its age.

Pic du Midi Ossau 2884m

My boots were still wet from yesterday. Looks like another hike in falling apart trainers again.
Didn't think there would be much snow on this one. Even though there was a sideways warning sign about avalanches on the way here. I think its already finished avalanching till next winter.

The first part of the walk went through several different landscapes. It started off through a forest, then went through a glen, which opened up into a wide valley. The valley went up the side of a rocky mountain which plateaued into a wide grassy plain, covered in snow.

Daffodils in May

Ibex skull. Someones obviously took the horns. Still smelled pretty rank.

My hat blew away here down into that valley. My trainers were dry until i had to run after it.

This guy again. Was never any good at hide and seek.

From here i could see the base of Pic du Midi Ossau. I was initially just going to walk up here then walk back the way i came. The map indicated a route up it, but from what i could see it was definitely a climb. I'd only brought a few biscuits and fruit cause i thought i was only gonna be out for a few hours. This wasn't enough food to get me up and down, then back to me car. If it was summer and id got more food then id probably give it a go.

That's Pic du Midi Ossau. At this point, i was still expecting to walk up there.

The snowy plateau lead up to a ridge. I was now quite close to the base of Midi Ossau and looked like id need more than a couple of cheese buttys to get up there.
I thought this was gonna be a short walk but took more than 7 hours. Which seemed like a long time before i came to France but now thats jus moyenne.

Seen this cool bug on the way back. Think it's an oil beetle.

This is a mouses winter nest which was revealed as the snow melts.

The next day it snowed quite heavily but mostly got washed away by rain. This is the middle of May as well.

This is an ice pattern on my car.

Taillón 3147m

Since the snow had always been frozen solid in the morning, I thought i'd go a bit later in the day about 9, to give the ice a chance to soften a bit so it would be easier to walk up. But then my key broke and my car wouldn't start so i didn't get there till 10:30. Made a cool timelapse video on the way up though.

The snow ended up being a lot softer than i expected. So soft infact, every step went up to my knees.
It had gone from like walking on a slippery rock, to like walking up a sand dune. Totally missed the happy medium i was aiming for.
Every step was sheer effort. I'd even whittled a snazzy ice axe yesterday so i could get past the ice. Just dead weight now.
I battled on for about two hours but hardly made any ground. I was nearly half way in distance, but it still could take another 3 hours to get to the top, then 4-5 back down. I also needed to get some food and drive to my next mountain. My boots were now soaked. All waterproof capabilities completely lost. I could feel my skin burning from the sun. I was disappointed but had to make a tactical retreat.

This is me up to me knees.

Hide and seek champion 2017

That's where i was supposed to be goin.

The snow was quite deep.

I've already mentioned how to drive through the pyrenees. Google maps is giving me a choice of two routes. One is a more direct route and one is a really long way round. They both take almost exactly the same amount of time.
If you look at the more direct route in detail you can see why. That isnt a kids maze puzzle. Its a road.
I took the longer route because i can't stress enough how much i hate those steep and winding mountain roads.
I was on a motorway once. It had a hairpin bend on it. It was well sign posted but come on, this isn't a race track.

Cirque De Gavarnie

The Pyrénées is a horizontal mountain range stretching from the west coast of France and Spain to the east coast. You can't drive through it from west to east. From the French side, you have to drive north out of the mountains, move west or east, then back down south into the mountains again.
I was driving through a section of road that had a sign saying it is closed for part of the year. Theres a town at the end of the road called Gavarnie. This means that during the winter, this town is completely cut off to the outside world. For like 4-5 months. Maybe longer. It's the middle of May and theres still snow here.
The town reminded me of a Welsh seaside town aswell, even though we are hundreds of kilometres from the sea.
I drove into a car park and noticed a sign saying 5€. An old woman on a bike scuttled over and started doing laps of my car like a hungry dog. I restarted my engine and made a hasty retreat.
All the car parks in town cost money. I ended up driving out of town to park. This added 40 minutes to my walk. To save 5€. Some people woulda just paid it. I don't have any cash anyway.
Apart from the amazing views thats all i have to say about this place. The walk was pretty good. Only got lost twice for a few minutes. Very busy on the way back but i found another way with almost no people.
Got caught off guard taking an arms out photo. They were probably wondering why that guy was standing with his arms out. But quickly came to the most logical conclusion that it is to show that he's been there.
Cause honestly when i tell people they don't believe me.

Pretending i'm not taking a photo.

This water looks so tempting to jump into but it would reduce your life expectancy to minutes.

This guy again, pretending he's a rock. What a joker.

I don't stick my arms out anymore to create a more meaningful shot.

Can you spot the path?

Only joking, i still stick my arms out. Wheeey!!

Grotte Mas d'Azil

Saw this cool bridge on the way. Fell in while taking this photo and nearly got swept away.