Jen makes her way around the cliff to position herself to reach above upper lake.
'Be careful, my Jen, you haven't prepared our dinner yet.'
And this concludes a 7-week trip to Spain and Andorra including a walk into Gibraltar to pay our
respects to a rock, two walks into France from Andorra, one from Spain and a walk from the Principality
to the Spanish border, all but Gibraltar, crossing the Pyrenees Mountain range. We have the great fortune, at least
so far, to find that each trip seems to exceed the joy of the previous one. On the other hand, it might be that
we have memory lapses or selective memories. Whatever the case, our hope is that this exciting trend continues.
From lakes to snow fields within minutes. A person can swim or ski in the same region. We elected
neither having not brought swimsuits or skis.
Another ski station, another massive mountain—in the early stages of the Percelena hike.
The three Tristaina Lakes, glacial lakes at an altitude of over 9,000 feet.
We had no idea of what to expect before embarking on the hiking adventure. We were cautioned that
our lack of Spanish would result in a less than a satisfactory outcome. Then there was the thought that
seven weeks would be too long in one country although Andorra was part of the deal. We have discovered
over the years and more particularly, the recent years of Hike-about, most times we create our own stumbling
blocks. As a person mentioned to us: "I could never live out of a suitcase". What we have found is that
many of these issues or discomforts only become uncomfortable should you wish them to be. When we look
at the various components as part of the whole, suddenly potential problems dissipate. We have mentioned
from time-to-time that we deal with the less ideal issues of life probably as many do. While adversity
or difficult situations are not welcomed, sometimes they do amount to growth experiences. When we realize
how much benefit we gain from the hiking, challenges, travel, people and places, the freedom and discovery
and many other factors, the small impediments are a tiny cost to bear.
Editor's new plan: Will look better by focusing on background and blurring foreground.
(It's a plan, I suppose.) Local hike, L'Armiana.
The early part of the hike was a steep climb across the way from the town of Ordino, (Percelena).
A peaceful scene in the glacial bowl at the conclusion of the outward bound leg.
Refugi in the distance.
The ledge was a little narrower than anticipated as he leaped to cross a gulley. Clearly, lining up for
a bit of the usual.
Have to admit that I enjoyed the jump across. Only do it at the Editor's urging...mostly.
We were mesmerized by the beauty of so many places visited in Spain. The few views into France were
captivating and the experiences in Andorra topped it all. We have little doubt, things going well, our return
to that part of the world is on 'the cards'. While it would be nice to speak the language or at least, wish
there was more English spoken in that part of the world, there's an international or human system of communication
that at times, transcends language. Nevertheless, our focus is outside the cities and towns, the wilderness to be
specific, which is truly universal.
Editor goes 'over the top' near Canillo. Searching for a tree and...relief.
'For my next trick'...yes? Jen settles to return to trailhead which is a few hundred feet
below the lakes.
From 1,100 feet, we view ski town of El Tartar, next one up from Canillo.
Finally, we would like to thank all those people who viewed the blog and took the time to write to us
over the period. It's always appreciated but more so during the initial period of the trip when we were unable
to converse with the locals. Once we mastered both Spanish and then Catalan, we noticed our English ability
dropped tremendously—in the end, we began to even think in the local languages. So we apologize for our latter
lapse in communication skills.
We would like to invite the many Russian and Europeans that are following the blog to write to us—it would
be nice (We obviously have no way of knowing who you are). Russians seem to be the largest segment
of readership following Americans, with the gap closing. Thank goodness the 'cold war' is over.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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