Day 28: Portet-d’Aspet to Argein

October 3, 2019 – Departed 9:00 – Arrived 16:30

Back to sunny weather today. Everything more or less dried overnight, except for the boots – but this is a minor inconvenience.

The GR78 went through a string of villages today – Portet-d’Aspet, Saint-Lary, Augirein, Saint-Jean-du-Castillonnais, Buzan, Aucazein, Argein – basically all in the same valley. But the path doesn’t follow the road, it goes up in the mountains on each side, in the process making some substantial detours. A bit more tiring, but with friendlier surroundings.

So for most of the day I was again in the forests that make up the bulk of the Parc Régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises. Nice paths, nice views. For some reason I was a bit tired (despite sleeping okay), so I was a bit slower than usual. I just took my time.

I am now resting at a gîte between Argein and Audressein. The place is halfway up the mountain, and off-grid. They put me up in a tiny stone shed that they turned into rough housing – a couch on the first floor, a ladder to the loft and a bed there. That’s about it. A rudimentary shower and kitchen are in another building nearby. Not great luxury but that will do for the night.