How to go walking, French style

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At the invitation of our neighbour Lulu, we went on another organised walk yesterday, with some rather older citizens of Lavalanet and Laroque. Dun , the village we started from, is a pretty community set among the rolling hills between us and Pamiers and Mirerpoix- a little more distant from the Pyrenees than us, but quite 'English' in its gentle appeal. We walked along country tracks, through ancient hamlets, and near the ruined castle of Dun, enjoying the comapny of quite a varied group of people.

We have learnt nothing about hiking in France. We really should have known by now.....

Abiout 2 and a half hours into the walk, our leader suddenly said 'This place'll do', and sat us down in a tree-lined spot, for...well, we supposed a rest. But no! There were a dozen or so of us walking, and between them, the others produced:

- several thermoses of hot water with a variety of different types of tea and coffee bags
- lots of apples and oranges
- several bars of rather good dark chocolate
- a very large home made aniseed cake
- home made quince sweetmeats
- sugar lumps, to be soaked till dfripping with home prepared eau-de-vie in a variety of flavours, such as juniper (one sugar lump packed quite a powerful kick, I can tell you).

So that's why they all carried such big rucksacks.

We might go again. I'd better get cooking

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