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Hexatrek

A 105-day adventure by philip Read more
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  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    My turn

    August 7, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Late start this morning. We decided to be tourists and took gondola up first climb. Saved us 1 and a half hours of road and steep climb.
    Then a climb to a col. I managed to fall on a sidle and dislocated my finger. Actually thought it was broken but gave it a yank and it popped back in. Bit sore and swollen tonight but ok. No photographic evidence sorry. too much adrenaline flowing at the time.
    Camping beneath next col. Just had a visit from two donkeys.
    Starting to see wild lavender now so must be getting close    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler
    1

    Cold night

    August 8, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We were camped pretty high so most of clothes on by morning.
    Nice views today looking into Italy. Countryside changing by the day. Weather hot and dry.
    Managed an omlette and beer at 3pm at refuge and walked on to wild camp.
    Visited by wild pig in the night. Had been warned about the wolves so relieved just a pig.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    closed on Wednesday

    August 9, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We were very excited today. We would be walking through 4 towns during the day. Coffee, lunch and beer and then ice cream.
    unfortunately for us almost everything stays shut on Wednesday. Got a coffee and cold slice of pizza.
    Did get to walk through some lovely villages though.
    Hot afternoon and a wrong turn tested our resolve but nice campsite albeit a bit noisy.
    We were supposed to do alternate route tomorrow. 6 days vs 3 and a big food carry. We opted for the easier less scenic route as feeling shattered. Will arrive in Nice on Maree's birthday 🥳    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    The sea

    August 10, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Saw the Mediterranean today. took a photo but impossible to capture.
    Nice day today. pretty brutal 2.5 hr climb but then along tops all day.
    Stopped 2 hours short of next town to bivouac. Lisa, an Austrian girl, is also camping with us.
    Booked a hotel for tomorrow night. Will be first time in a bed for a couple of weeks I think.
    Also booked an apartment in Menton for a couple of nights. Looking forward to being a tourist for a couple of days.
    Sorry not many photo ops today. Country very similar    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Update from Allen

    August 10, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Country looks amazing that he is in.

    Monday started out a bit average, stuck in Les 2Alps most of the morning getting supplies & prescription of dressings, etc from the Pharmacy for my finger.
    Felt a bit like a one armed paper hanger at first & have had to resort to walking with 1 pole. But once I was back in the mountains proper it was all fine.
    Beautiful village of Mizoen b4 the big afternoon climb. I stopped at Refuge des Mouterres & bivouac'd there. Lovely, welcoming people & great views.
    Big climb to Cime de la Valette (fantastic views) - walking around a mob of sheep with Patou/guard dogs (didn't fancy another run in with one of them).Very remote, no track or trail markers, just the app track log & occasional cairn
    Then over to Glacier de St Sorlin where I bivouac'd for the night - was a bit special camping at a glacier.
    More beautiful lakes, blueberry pickers & Para ponter with Mont Blanc in the distance.
    Bivouac at Refuge de la combe Madame.
    Quite a descent this morning then a big ascent up to the seven lakes but good to have most of    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Distance from Allen.

    August 10, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    As Allen has had to do a big circle before heading south he is now a long way away from us.
    He is somewhere just NW of the 57 marker.

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Nice

    August 12, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    Forecast for today wasfor 32 degrees. We decided to take a bus to a Nice suburb and walk the last 5km. Didn't want to walk through industrial and outskirts for 10km.
    Arrived late morning and left packs in storage. Walked through food market and a swim at beach with Lisa who we had been with for a week or so She headed off to Austria. Quite sad when Maree said "have a good life".
    Late lunch at Waka bar including a Maori tiki.
    Nice nicer than expected but full of people.

    Caught train to Menton. Beautiful old town but very hot.
    Off to Carcassonne on Tuesday but worried about forecast for later in the week.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Lazy day in Menton

    August 13, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Walk around in town until 11am. Then hid from the heat in our tiny apartment. Thank god for the fans.
    Roof in bathroom so low i have to bend over all the time.
    Beautiful town full of Italians.

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    2nd quiet day

    August 13, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Another easy day. got up and walked into Italy. Hoping for coffee but had to cross back into France for one.
    Looks like we will head up to Antibes for a few days....... and looking like Allen might join us. He sounds very tired which is not surprising after all the walking he has done. An incredible effort.
    We have now done 1400km which is a record for Maree and I.
    Will probably delay our start for next leg until after the 38 degree day forecast for next Monday.
    Sorry not much in the way of photos today    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler
    1

    look who we bumped into

    August 15, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    We are now in Antibes. Trained here at midday and met up with Allen. He is great but pretty shattered.
    Antibes great but very busy. Bit of a shock after mountains.
    And yes we are heading for 40 degrees on Monday. Gulp.
    Got a group photo in the Med.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler
    1

    Antibes

    August 16, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Had a great couple of days here
    Some swimming in crowded beaches. Some feces (We now know caca is shit in french) as Allen will attest to.
    Took the train back up to Meton and then Monaco for a look. Lots of huge boats and super cars. I now know where the HB farmers spend the winter.
    Off to a fishing village called Sete for a night. Allen staying on for a few days and we go to Carcassonne.
    Probably start walking on Wednesday..... hopefully after the heatwave.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Carcassonne

    August 19, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Took train yesterday to Carcassonne from Sete. Sete was really nice although boat jousting festival was on so really crowded. Slept on Allens roof in our tent.
    Lovely little fishing port.
    Carcassonne is beautiful but really hot. Currently 41 degrees so haven't seen too much yetRead more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    The train

    August 21, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Interesting experience on train yesterday. A lady missed her stop. She then got really upset and started slapping herself and biting her arm while yelling out.
    Can only assume she was on something.
    We have been really impressed with the French. People are very friendly and incredibly polite. Stopping in cars to allow you to cross. Don't see that in NZ.
    Heat has been a killer though. Not looking forward to walking again.
    Allen is still in Sete. He will be a few days behind us as he waits for Alex to join him. We will all meet up in Toulouse to watch coverage of All Blacks vs France.
    Saw a shop today called Otago rugby.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Lagrasse

    August 23, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Left Carcassonne just after 6 am. Sunrise not until 7 now so days shorter.
    Did 14km until heat really kicked in. Then hitched to Lagrasse. 3 students picked us up after only 20 minutes which was nice
    staying in lovely little pension run by an English lady. Decided too hot to tent.
    42 degrees here this afternoon, so limited sightseeing to a cathedral and abbey.
    Warm again for tomorrow. Pretty nervous about water. Think i have drunk 4 litres today. Might have to do a heavy carry.
    Sent a selfie to our kids on snapchat. Nick asked if i had put the old filter on. No more selfies for me.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Budget day

    August 24, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Been a pretty average day. We got up early and walked in the dark only to discover we went the wrong way so lost an hour.
    Then water has been tricky so carrying 6.5 litres between us.
    And then the heat. Good progress this morning but had to stop and rest and finish early.
    And now we are being eaten by horse flies but too hot o close the tent.
    Still at 30 degrees at 6.30.
    Bugger all photos sorry. Country very uninspiring. Low scrub and limited shade.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Vultures

    August 24, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Got buzzed by vultures today. ominous sign in this heat.
    Wingspan probably 1.5 m

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    A better couple of days

    August 25, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Firstly sorry my moan in the last post. It wasn't our greatest day.
    Good couple of days and steady progress.
    Had a great lunch at a little village called Termes. Would have been a great place to stop and explore.
    Carried on and bivouac'd at a road junction. 24km day. Still 30 but felt manageable.
    Cooler day today. Toured a 13 century ruins. incredible location. Video shows our climb to it this afternoon.
    Stopped early as limited camping. Only 28k steps today so feeling restless tonight.
    Half day tomorrow as need to wash and recharge everything.
    Shot of car is the standard issue for the rural villagers. Must be simple and reliable.
    Dead snake on road this afternoon. Zippping up tent tonight.
    Blackberries and blueberries everywhere. Blueberries aren't ripe yet.
    And cat ladder to second floor.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler
    113

    Failed dreams

    August 26, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    What a difference a day makes. 3 days ago, 42 degrees. 14 degrees today. gloves and hat for Maree.
    Wet night and walk this morning. Visited an amazing hermitage high on a cliff face in the gorge de galamus.
    Saw lots of half abandoned orchards, lifestyle blocks and houses over the last couple of days. Think it must be a pretty harsh environment. A bit like Ngatapa 😀.
    Short day as we wait for supermarket to open tomorrow (closed today). Unfortunately not open until 9am and hoping to do a 26km day so will be a late finish.
    Trying to dry the tent and washing in our room tonight.
    Hopefully, we will meet Allen and Alex in 2 days' time if we can cope with 50km over two days.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Wet day

    August 28, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Bit of an average day. Feels very cold after 40 degrees. Just waiting for supermarket to open at 9am.

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    Sournia

    August 28, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Pretty good day except for weather. Steady rain most of the day.
    Hitched about 6km because of the weather. i was in the back of the van.
    Ended up pulling the pin after 16km as wet through. Improving tonight.
    Sorry not many photos. Too wet.    Read more

  • philip caveHexatrekTraveler

    And then there were 4

    August 29, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Big walk today. Over 31km to rendezvous with Allen and Alex.
    Met up with them in Vinca. Met at a roadside cafe which Allen said was like a mexican border town.
    Nice bivouac by river that night. Good to be back in the mountains.
    No good photos sorry    Read more

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