As we drive through Lourdes on our route to Gavarnie we see no immediate sign of the awful June flash floods but as you head out of the town, it soon becomes evident, the damage all along the river.
Huge boulders trees roots and all, piled high, roads and buildings collapsed, electric pylons being erected. Mile after mile of devastation and sadness. A time to reflect on the power of nature.
Then just a turn and crossing of the Gave de Pau, a feeling of Peace as we start climbing higher, the scenery stunning.
The road twists and turns along the river.
All this rushing, well oxygenated water should be good for finding that lovely little bird, the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus). We start searching the boulders and after a few stops, our luck is in. With no cover to hide behind, it is hard to photograph this shy bird.
Sadly like a small missile, it was off up river and we continue our journey upwards.
Parking in Gavarnie we now continue on foot into the Cirque a natural amphitheatre carved out by glaciers. It stands over 1500 metres high dwarfing all around.
Forty five minutes into the walk you arrive at the famous, Hotel du cirque et de la Cascade. Once a meeting place of mountaineers. A great place for a quiet beer. The Grande Cascade clearly seen, a further thirty minutes walk.
The Grande Cascade falls four hundred and twenty three metres this makes it the highest waterfall in Europe. The water feeds from the Lago Helado beyond in Spain. If you look carefully a person can be seen walking in a green jacket (look above the m of my copyright). There are another two walking couples beyond him but barely visible.
We park for the night on the camping car stop in Gavarnie.Black woodpeckers calling in the trees below us. The next morning we decide to go higher in search of high altitude bird species. The weather is not to good, light rain but we soon see Black Redstarts and Common Wheatears.
On the road above the ski station the weather starts closing in and we see the only other vehicle on the road, coming down! We continue passing the col Tente, eventually coming to a halt, at the boulders that stop you from continuing across the border into Spain. Now in dense cloud frost and sleet, its time to retreat lower.We abandon the many birds seen, for a safer environment.
Out of time to cross into Spain today we night stop near to Col Aspin. It got very cold during the night a we awake to low cloud and frost. the mountains around us superb in the rising sun.
As the sun starts to come up we are tempted by the forest and the bird song.
Pleased with a sighting of Crested Tits (Parus cristatus).
Over the top of Col Aspin
Into Spain tomorrow, hoping to sight Lammergeiers!
