Morning Glory

Day 13. Stage 12: E-Campannelle -> Refuge de Prati

Back into some sort of routine this morning - up at 5am (still not getting easier), got packed and ready to go in time for a beautiful sunrise over the east coast. Our route has brought us to the Easternmost mountains in the central/south east part of the island, so there is nothing between us and the coast. This is also why yesterday, today and tomorrow are all sunrises!!

The mornings hike took us through an ancient pine forest, and across (and through) several streams. Very easy going!

At one point, we passed what used to be the tallest tree in Europe!

"Used to", because it got struck by lightning a few years ago, and the top three meters broke off!

By 10:30 we'd arrived at our intended refuge - the Bocca di verdi, but unlike yesterday, decided to press on for another 4 or 5 km into the mountains to reach the Refuge de Prati - this involved around 500m of steep climbing, which after two easy days came as a complete shock!

We sweat more in that hour than i did in the previous 4 days combined!

After 13 days of stunning views and scenery, the GR2o still managed to stop me in my tracks. At the top of the Bocca D'Oru, we were treated to a simply jaw dropping scene. The ground dropped away at an alarming gradient right down to a plateau which stretched out to the coast. The scene was the same as far as you could see North to South. I have never felt to small!

Also worthy of note, are the showers at the refuge - a hosepipe in a tin roofed shed!

Bill caught up with us here, and immediately launched into a conversation with Ben and anyone else who spoke english in earshot. He managed to start on basket ball players wages and end up quizzing Ben on his desire for Australian independence!

He elected to carry on walking today - preferring to stay the night in an unmanned refuge another 5km down the trial...

There are only 4 days of hiking left after this, and I found my self both sad and relieved in equal measure! I would love to climb more mountains, but my knees will only take so much more!