02  Biriatou - Deskargahandiko leposa  19 km

Biriatou

Deskargahandiko leposa                              7 km

Early in the morning Brian left hiking along the top of the Pyrenees following the High Route. We left a bit later and the real hike along the GR 10 started. It became a very hot and humid day. During the morning we had several times views and later glimps of the Atlantic. There where several ups and downs to hike before we arrived at Col d'Ibardin. This community is mostly in Spain and has a big supermarket. The prices are Spanish prices. This attracts French people coming here by car. A few number of restaurants are on the French site of town. After shopping at the supermarket we had lunch at a restaurant in France. For lunch we had a typical Spanish meal, Paella.

Being well fed we moved on. Some further ups and downs on the trail passes for a few hundred meters through Spain before staying France for the rest of the hike. In the afternoon we arrived at the outskirts from Olhette. Now todays real climb started. It was a tough climb; especially for me being the first real day out hiking this year and having a hot and humid day. In Early evening the pass Errepausuko lepoa was reached. The weatherforcast warned of thunderstorms for the night. Instead of setting up our tents went to the shelter Deskargahandiko leposa. A small rock building with room for 4 people. Thwo people where there. One of them wantred to climb mountain La Rhune the next morning. During the night the thunderstorm started and two more people rushed in as staying in their tents didn't seem to be acceptable for them.

Atlantic view

Spain as seen from Hindaye

Last glimps of Atlantic

In a French restaurant in Spanish Cal d'Ibardin we had paella

Clouds had moved in

Mountain La Rhune seen from shelter Errepausuko lepoa