Spain - Day 14: San Nicolas de Bujaruelo to Goriz

Three hundred km was passed today. But still not party. Not even half way.

Today was backwards. We started down hill (800m) and will finish up (1600m). And a distance of 24km in a predicted 7 hours 35 minutes, given our rests a long day. We walked down but high on the side of the valley so got some really good views.

Just liked the picture...

Rocky bit

The forest on the way down was interspersed with barren rocky bits.

Very geologically interesting and we geological-ed to our hearts content. But we had a long day ahead so we couldn't dally or dilly too much.

But we did dilly and we did dally. We're on holiday.

In fact we even passed up this swimming hole. Probably the most stupid thing that we have done so far. Getting in would have been easy - just jump. But the way to get out wasn't so obvious so we unfortunately gave it a miss. 

Fools.

We didn't swim...

This little canyon was at the bottom of the Ordesa Canyon - a big big attraction in Spain. We had thousands of walking companions. Bus loads. Car park full loads. Scouts troops. Old people. Young people. Every people.

Glimpse of the canyon edge

The bottom of the canyon is generally hidden by the forest. But with glimpses of its grandeur. The river making the canyon constantly trying to commit rivercide - by jumping off some or other spectacular waterfall.

We got sick of looking at them to be honest. Seems we're easily saturated.

The path became a bit of a motorway, to cater for all of the people. As we had big back packs people looked at us - from their flip-flopped comfort.

One of the smaller but more photogenic falls

Higher up - the trees gave way to the canyon proper. But we were hot and tired and sick of looking up. At some point down in the Canyon we had crossed the Greenwich Meridian. Something not marked with a plaque much to our surprise.

Looking up

Looking down

And there was more up - a lot more up, hidden behind the up in front of us. A bit of a shock actually. But we had a date with a camping spot at the Refugio de Goriz. Well, we thought it was a camping spot. The Refugio, which stands at the junction of several major walks and the end of the canyon itself, is fully booked six months in advance. We, weren't, of course, as expected, that German and hadn't booked six months in advance. 

So we were camping. [Illegal in this park but OK next to the refugio]

Almost there - but some directional confusion

The view from the top was - well was - worth it. One of the best views that I have ever had. Everything is perfect. We are happy.

Ordessa Canyon

The camp site was just the side of the mountain. Not flat. Not unrocky.  Just the side of the mountain. And there were hundreds of tents. We booked dinner at the Refugio - we were numbers 136, 137, 138 and 139, we weren't the last either.  The third sitting, at 9pm. A small Refugio but an efficient kitchen. 

A room with a view

We got caught in a hail storm on day 7. The same storm here was throwing ice the size of golf balls and they literally shredded every tent that had camped here that night. An expensive night out.

Living on the edge*

* It was actually worse than it looks