Crossing the Pyrenees proved dramatic. The van coped well with the upward climb out of Spain. We stopped at the top to take in the breathtaking views. There was even a shepherd with a huge flock of sheep on a high peak. On the way down however I overused the brakes on the steep twisting turns and there was suddenly the horrible smell of overheating brakes. We stopped for twenty minutes but they overheated again within two kilometres. We made a painful slow decent at last reaching the valley. Panic over we continued serenely on our way. The route was marked by many farms selling the local cheese. We ended up in Laruns in the valley of d'Ossau which is surrounded by tall mountains. The town was setting up for the eveing market, however a torrential
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