Monday, September 2, 2013

GR10 // day 35 // Goulier - Siguer

Distance: 13.2km (695.6km), time spent: 4:24 (269:00).
Ascent / descent: 618m (39956m) / 988m (39550m).
Altitude (start / end / highest): 1110m / 740m / 1685m.
Weather: Sunny and nice weather.


Just a short walk today and that fits me fine. I've felt a little bit tired the last days and the next two days after this one are supposedly long and hard. After a good breakfast at the hostel I start the day with what I didn't do yesterday, by visiting the village. I have no need to get too early to Siguer either.

A fountain in the center of Goulier. Pay notice to the elaborate street signs.

Goulier is a nice small village, with small streets and little passages that are named. The number of inhabitants in the village doesn't equal the size of it; there are about 90 people living here throughout the year, but there are houses to a lot more. The temperature is often high between the villagers I've been told. Which maybe could be due to the lack of anything here, there aren't any facilities here, Mounicou had at least a bar.

View from Col de Rizoul, with Auzat and Vicdessos below.

I'm not getting away from the mandatory ascent through woods, but today the walk feels a lot brighter than before. A horse is standing grazing while looking at me on my way up. Col de Rizoul (1330m) provides an opportunity to climb up a distinct hill to gaze upon the mountains. Port de Saleix is visible and Goulier, Olbier, Auzat and Vicdessos are situated below.

Port de Saleix in the horizon.

The majority of todays walk didn't offer the most exciting nature. Col d'Esquérus (1467m) is just a glimpse in the forest before you come down to a forest track that takes you to Col de Grail (1485m), the walk on the track reminding me of the fields outside Oslo back home. Col de Lercoul (1549m) is also an overgrown clearing in between the trees. I climb up to the summit of Pic de la Bède (1685m) through thicket and scrub for the best view of today.

View from Pic de la Bède.

When I eat lunch below Col de Lercoul where I can look down towards Lercoul and Siguer, as well as over to Gestiès, a small butterfly is landing on my knee and relaxes there for a while. The trail is going down past tranquil Lercoul (1120m) on the way down. As expected I arrive at Siguer (740m) early, but today I have no problems with it. And Le Petit Gîte is an unusually cozy and small hostel. I'm the only one visiting today.

View from Col de Rizoul, with Auzat and Vicdessos below.

The gîte is run by Fabrice Scheffer and he will give you a warm welcome if you come on a visit. Fabrice is making dinner for both of us while he tries to pronounce my name correctly; my name is not easy for them. There aren't living more than 18 persons in Siguer and like at Goulier there aren't many facilities in the village, there is another bar/café here but the opening hours were somewhat vague. Not the most exciting walk today, but a nice evening in Siguer.

Inside Le Petit Gîte in Siguer.

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