George & Mostyn - Walking the GR10

Friday, 13th June 2008

George:We started out after breakfast in fairly fine weather with some sunshine, though it had rained over night. The climb up to the first col was quite warm and sweaty but the walk down the other side was delightful. We met John and Glenys again at the bottom of the track and then started the steep climb up the hillside. Halfway up the climb it started to rain and we kitted up. It didn't stop for the rest of the day!

When we reached the road we decided that the climb of Occabe would be pointless because of the cloud so we walked the roads until we reached Café Kayolar near to Chalet Pedro. We had soup and an omelette then walked over the hills to the Col d'Iraty in heavy rain. By the last climb I was very wet, cold and exhausted. I had a couple of hot drinks "prescribed" by New Zealander, Ian who we had met on the climb and felt a lot better. We all ate together in the restaurant that evening.

Mostyn:John and Glenys joined us for today's walk. Breakfast was a meagre affair and the bread was not fresh.

After a steady climb we reached Col d'Ithurramburu. Then there was a gentle descent before the steep climb to Col d'Irau. During this climb it started to rain. We saw one other walker in the distance. It continued to rain for the next 7 hours, during a 9-hour walk. Because of the conditions we did not make sufficient stops for water, which was not very sensible. Eventually we came to a wooded area where we saw that the walker we had spotted earlier had stopped for a snack. We wished him "Bon appétit!" and he smiled at us. His name was Ian, from New Zealand and he was doing the coast to coast trip all in one go.

George was not feeling too good at this stage, but struggled on to the Chalets d'Irati, although we found that it was further than we had imagined. Ian had trained as a paramedic and he was wise enough to realise that George was not very well. At the gite, George went straight to bed and Ian made him hot drinks, which we ensured that he drank in order to improve. After an hour or so he was revived and felt a lot better. We spent yet another evening drying out our clothes in the chalet. We were now a party of five and we all had a hearty meal together before retiring for the night.