Day 13 – Lescun to Etsaut

September 10, 2019 – Departed 9:15 – Arrived 15:30

A quiet day. It was raining when I left, so I put the rain cover, K-Way and gaiters on. The weather alternated between rain and no rain all day, so I kept removing the K-Way and putting it back on, but that was a minor inconvenience. Walking in the rain was actually quite nice, at times I could see clouds in the valley and at times I was in the middle of them, with light rain falling softly.

Today was as green and lush as yesterday morning had been dry and rocky. The climb to Col de Barrancq (1,600 m) was a gentle slope, the way I like them, through a very green beech forest. On the other side, the forest became pastures or ferns, and the path was much steeper. Shortly after the the top I came across another blueberry patch, I was able to pick a few but they were very isolated – one here, one there, obviously it is past the season.

Borce and Etsaut are two small villages that almost touch each other and are nested at the bottom of a deep valley. I dropped my stuff at my auberge in Etsaut, then after a shower walked back to Borce to buy dinner – they have a small épicerie with fresh fruits; it also serves as a bar and I am writing this while having a glass of cider. Tomorrow is a day of rest for me so I’ll spend more time exploring both villages. I’ll also do laundry, repack my backpack, etc. For an extra 3.50 euros a night I have treated myself to a private room and I also hope to get two good, undisturbed nights of sleep, something I rarely get in dorms.