Tuesday 2nd Oct Estaon to Tavascan 11.5 kms

An "easy" day. Good weather, in fact the warmest day we've had for weeks. We have a 600 mtr climb over the 1st 4 kms through mountain pasture. Its interesting to note how over the course of the walk the geology and ecology, even human architecture, have changed. We are now closer to the Mediterranean, a warmer, drier climate, and now pines predominate. The treeline closer to the Atlantic was about 1200 mts altitude, now we have forest up to 2000 mtrs. As we are walking we come across a herd of mountain horses. Strongly built, they race down steep slopes at impossible speeds. We reach the top with me soaked in perspiration as usual. Its always interesting to look down into the next valley and look eastwards towards the next mountain ranges we will have to face. From these high viewpoints I try to identify where the next day's challenge is, though it pays not to work it out, everything looks incredibly steep and high. After a brief rest we begin the descent. Quite steep, we drop 450mtrs in the 1st 2kms. The narrow path then edges around a high, vertical bluff for another 2 km. I don't look over the edge, just focus on where I am placing each foot. I'm glad the weather is fine. I would not like to be doing this section on a bad day. We then drop another 200 mtrs to Aineto, a tiny village, fill our water bottles from the village spring. The water from the mountain springs is generally clear, cold and delicious. The stream water usually looks clean but with so many animals around its not safe to drink. I carry a water sterilizer for this. We walk on a km more to Tavascan. We front up to Hotel Llacs de Cardo. The hotel people know our host from Estaon who told me to tell them to take care of us. They give us a discount and 2 nice rooms with a bathroom each. CB immediately claims a room to himself muttering about smelly boots and socks. CJ and self take umbrage but open windows.