Spain - Day 21: Refugi de Conangles to Refugi Dera Restanca

The book (the Cicerone guide, by Brian Johnson, which everyone has) says...

"The route passes through magnificent granite scenery. If the weather is good and you have time to spare it is worth following the alternative route via Lac de Mer"

Now on the front of the book there is a picture of a lake with and island. Deep blue, surrounded by rocks with a sky to dream for. Well, obviously photoshopped right? But Martin had been obsessed with this picture - he had wanted to see it. Desperately.  More on this later.

But of course it wasn't actually on the GR 11. But ,was on one of the HRP alternatives. They all had forgotten where on the HRP it was - but not me. Today was the day that if we varied our route, just a little. we would pass this mythical lake. The Lake of the Sea. But I said nothing.

Today we passed the 400km mark - possibly half way - depend on your source of information.

Off through the skinny tree forest

The last to leave the refugi as usual. (We had generally given up trying to beat the heat. It never seemed to work anyway. But today they were waiting for us to leave so they could lock up. We are keen. We really only get up to beat a thunder storm. We are to some extent heat proof. But we are not sure if we are lightning proof). And thanks to the shower we are clean too.

A steep climb to get the blood flowing

The start was as often it is very poor quality down. In fact one might even entertain the thought that this down was in fact up. Maybe something to do with the world being round. The cleanliness didn't last long.

Another little victory

The black and white makes us look like climbers of old. It must have been harder then with no colour. All the paths would look the same.

Lunch spot

 Lunch was had in a sheltered part of the path with eagles floating high above us, or possibly sparrows floating quite near us, you can never really tell. The view went both ways a mountain from the past and some ibons from the future. But we ate a meal of sausage and bread in the present.

'Heavy backpack' honest...

We got to the point where the path split - our path to the left and down and the HRP (and the lake) to the right. But they still didn't know. Ok guys, I ask, HRP or not? Silence. Ok, lets vote I suggested. They all voted 'yes' because they thought that I wanted to go. Nora was so annoyed she bent the sign post. 

But later, they were content to boast like everyone else of their adventures on the HRP, oh yes. And of how pretty that 'Lac de Mar' was.

So to the right we went. The big lake that appeared on the map had been drained somehow (magic) and was now three smaller lakes. But the sun was shining, no wind, no people so time for that naked swim in the mountain lake. Eventually, we all went in and swam in what is usually the bottom of the lake.

An ibon(ita) - a baby ibon?

We lunched and swam and rested. The pictures of us swimming are unfortunately censored. For your sake as well as ours.

They were happier about the HRP at this point. But there was still some up to do. And a surprise over the last top of the day.

Heaven

Now, we all know that rocks fall and break and its basically a random process. Not much rhyme or reason to it. I used to believe this too until...

The big rock is massive

But then we get to the top and start down...

It is real

Now, a bit shocked, they were really happy about the detour. Martin especially. It seems that there was no photo-shopping and the picture is real.

We stood an looked, in awe... at the Lac de Mar.

Looking in awe...

The trip down to Refugi Dera Restanca was at least for me a real trip. Near the refugi my foot got caught in the undergrowth and I started to fall. Seeing that I was going to land on some rocks I 'jumped' - 'dived' as best I could to avoid the rocks. The whole thing was watched in horror by the rest of the troop.

But, all I got was a bit dusty. And very, very lucky.

Refugi Dera Restanca

We got to the old refuge and rested. And so did our friends.

We make it about 410km - so this is as good as half way as we are going to get.

Yipeee!!!