Well just a few more days before we set off. I hope that the thunderstorm that I got caught in on Tuesday morning isn't a forerunner for things to come. I had no waterproofs or any cover on my rucksack and got soaked to the skin in less than 15 minutes.
Only a few more training walks, three hours tomorrow in the heat and humidity so that should help acclimatise me to the heat of southern France especially on the first day whilst still at relatively low altitude. One last trip to the physio to try and sort out the niggling pain in my upper back - I think from lying awkwardly whilst on the trip to Snowdon in June - although shoulder injury from skiing in March still isn't a hundred percent. None of them seem to have any effect on my ability to carry a heavy rucksack. Also keeping off too many strawberries and peaches as they seem to give me gout - the pleasure of growing old.
All packed at slightly over Ryanair's allowance of 15kgs (well to close to risk upsetting Ryanair) so have moved some of the heavier items to a carrier bag to carry as hand luggage. Once off the plane I can unpack walking poles etc. and my total weight including food and water won't be much above that expected of 15kgs.
Sadly just heard that a life long family friend died this morning at the age of 92 - he had walked the length of the Pyrenees in the 40s or 50s (possibly whilst at Cambridge after the war) long before guide books, GPS, waymarks, refuges, modern lightweight gear etc. - well I suppose there may have been some mountain huts - he told me that they had to go down into the villages at night and I assume that he was walking on what eventually became the GR10.
