Date: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Day: 27
From: Arthez-de-Bearn To: Navarrenx
Start Walking: 659am End Walking: 335pm
Time: 7h31m
Distance (Planned): 31.6km Distance (Garmin): 32.7km
Progress: 707.1/765km
Ascent: 553m Descent: 599m
Weather: High cloud, blue sky and hot!
Stayed At: Gite Le Cri de la Giraffe (I kid you not!)
General Comments:
• Maybe it is karma! Over the past few days we have been trying to bend the trail to our will by taking short detours to shave a few kilometres off here and there. Today, the signs and my watch definitely did not agree with what the guidebook was forecasting. We were made to pay even further with a few additional ascents that weren’t shown in the guidebook’s elevation map and boy, did they elevate the heart rate! A tough day that should have skipped the Easy-Moderate rating and gone straight to Strenuous!
• The heat also knocked us around and, despite walking as hard and fast as we can, there’s no avoiding walking into the afternoon heat. I walk with a water bladder and I drank that baby dry, plus another 750ml water bottle. I would make a lousy camel!😉🐪🐪
• But back to more important things for the foodies amongst you. I promised a description of last night’s dinner and it was hearty French fair! Bearing in mind that the diners are walkers/pilgrims, so fine dining it’s not, but tasty and filling, it definitely was!
• We started with a wonderful soup full of 6-7 vegetables, plus beans, and a bottomless supply of freshly baked bread. Tubs of pate were passed around and I quickly passed that on to the person next to me! Disgusting, but the French people were loving it.
• Then a huge dish of roast chicken and possibly the tastiest vegetable lasagne I’ve ever had. Followed by fresh strawberries and cream in a trifle. Needless to say the wine was flowing too, so by the end of all that I rolled myself away from the table and straight into bed!😴
• Breakfast was more freshly baked bread, lashings of butter, homemade jams and a large mug of coffee. Yep, I’m livin’ the dream!
• It was very busy out on the trail today as we are all converging on our destination – St Jean Pied de Port. A large group of young people positively bounded past us and I am assuming that they were part of a Christian group or similar. There were plenty of wooden crosses a’dangling from their backpacks.
• The Pyrenees teased us again hiding behind clouds and showing themselves and their snow from afar. Every day we get a little bit closer.
Top Tips:
• Wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen. I am boggled by how few French people wear hats even in the belting afternoon sun. They probably think we are incredibly un-chic with our daggy broad-brimmed hats, but I know I would prefer not to have the sunburn.
Bon Chemin.
Life...one big adventure 
Love the donkey 😊
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Yes, all the donkeys were very cute and very friendly. I suspect they have been fed well by walkers over the years.
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It’s hot here at the minute, Mel, and it’s a real effort to climb a hill so I don’t envy you at all. Glad your destination is in sight xx
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Thanks, Jo. Our remaining days are shorter too which should mean we can get the bulk of the walking done before the worst of the heat arrives. Happy trails to you. Melx
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It’s the only way! Is your husband enjoying the walk too? xx
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Hmmm, ‘enjoying’ may be too strong a word, but he has liked many parts of it, especially meeting all the different people. 😁
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I love reading about your adventures.
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That’s my pleasure. Thanks for walking with me in France. 🚶♀️🚶♀️
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Just caught up with your exploits Mel, you’re knocking those miles out! I don’t blame you for a bit of road walking with all that mud, it’s meant to be enjoyable after all 😀 and one of the things I love about France is the bread 🥖
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Nearly done, Jim and with it comes those happy/sad feelings. And Yes, the bread has been amazing although I doubt that I will touch the stuff for 6 months when I get home. Happy trails to you. Mel
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love reading re your adventures Mel. Our little one about to begin. In London having helped with the move. Off to Scotland tomorrow. Enjoy those last miles. It has looked amazing. Xx
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Thanks, Kerry. I hope you also score fabulous weather like we did. And sounds like you have been working hard and have earned a rest or a wee walk, anyway! Here’s to wind up ya kilt!🤣 Xx
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That donkey is the quintessential picture of contentment Mel 😊
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Yes, it was one very happy chappy!
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This post has it all; great buildings, food and a cute animal.
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I try to please!🤣 Probably all that is missing chocolate!😁
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Good food makes any endeavor just that little bit sweeter.
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Yep, it certainly fuels the next day too. Another tasty meal last night with good company. Happy days.
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Love the donkey, love the flowers and that meal sounds amazing! Not so much love for walking the tough ascents and the heat 🙂
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Swings and roundabouts, Di! 🤣😉
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You making a lousy camel made me laugh – to be fair, they have a distinct biological advantage!! 🙂 Tough climbs in the heat are never fun, but looks like another beautiful day.
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😁 hiking is thirsty work!
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We also sleep in this gite. Le Cri de la Giraffe..on a dorm -top floor. Great memories. I enjoyed Navarrenx.
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Yep, it was a fabulous place, especially as Fabian did our washing!
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Oh, the so-called moderate hiking days … when I see it on a map or in a guidebook, I know it will be anything but that! But you guys pulled it off! And then there are the little things to be grateful for, like the fact that you are not a camel 😂. And then there is the photo of another donkey – love it!
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As you know, you have to look for all the little positives even on the tough or ‘moderate’ days. 😉
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