2nd days walking in cauterets

After the debacle of yesterday, the second days walk was with the whole group. Not as nice, too many people, yet still very enjoyable. 

Once again we climb up the mountain to a refuge and a lake. People had camped out for the weekend. A really popular spot for families to escape into the country.

This time we sit around the lake and eat our lunch washed down with red wine carried by individuals in their back packs, along with coffee topped with cognac, the proverbial canard ( sugar cube soaked in brandy). 

are we really ready to walk back down the mountain

I will have another please, sod the walking

As we walked back down we managed to pick wild raspberries and blueberries, some of the French walkers collected mushrooms. Raptors flew overhead and wagtails fluttered down by the fast flowing river streams.