tamsin.moye.me.uk

View Larger Map

We made it down to Banyuls-sur-Mer at about 13:30 today, barely ahead of
the 3 young French kids who’ve been with us for the last 3 days! I have
never seen so many vineyards as on the hills on the way down.

After pizza and celebratory beers we found a hotel, bought beachwear, had
ice cream and were just in time to welcome in the large French group with
their water. It appeared quite a few had turned up to see the end of it’s
journey so it was quite a cool thing to see.

We then promply did the obligatory go swimming in the sea thing, and
eventually pretty much everyone (both groups) joined us! I feel sorry for
those who were trying to quietly sunbathe in the vicinity.

So that’s the Haute Randonnee Pyreneene. It’s a tough one, so unless you
really are hardcarl (sic) you should probably try something shorter, like
2 weeks in the Alps or so. If you fancy attempting to traverse the
Pyrenees in one shot, you’d find the GR10 (French side) or GR11 (Spain)
avoid the technical high points, and the navigational requirements, which
just leaves you a spectacular walking challenge. If you really think you
are up to it all, though, good luck, and I can highly recommend this
route.

If anyone is planning to walk the GR10 or HRP and are passing through
Hendaye, please try to get me a photo of the grafitti on the ramp in the
skate park as you head out: “THEY CARL US HARDCORE”, and let me have it!