![\"Picnic\"](\"http:\/\/www.ildikototh.com\/wordpress3_0_1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_4608.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"French](\"http:\/\/www.ildikototh.com\/wordpress3_0_1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_4581.jpg\")
<\/a>At the top, we were treated by a loud eew-haw from the next door donkey and grazing horses with cowbells chiming across the field of soft green grass – the type you would want to roll around in – except for the minefield of fresh and sun-dried cow pies. Paul had driven his yellow camping van to the middle of this open pasture, and dished out the boeuf-roti, ham, fromage de brebis, carottes-rap\u00e9s, haricots vests, among many other delicacies of the region.<\/p>\nWe found the beer tap in the basement, next to the \u201cdungeon\u201d dormitory we slept in that night, and brought over a bottle to everyone\u2019s delight. The mood was very relaxed, a lazy dimanche apr\u00e8s-midi in South France.<\/p>\n
Packing up, the drive to the Pic began – first in a wide valley, then detoured through a village where we got stuck behind a tractor and some herders herding two cows (which decided to take a nice shit right in front of the car, our wheels squishing through the moist manure seconds later). Finally back on the main road, it narrowed between a deeper canyon on the right, and steepening walls on the left.<\/p>\n<\/a>After a large plate of food, a glass of juice\/beer\/wine, we lazed around in the sun, the chilly breeze whipping up light goosebumps on my skin. In the distance, colts rolled about in the dirt, hooves kicking the air. A bit closer, dogs licked the remainder of plates to their owners\u2019 nonchalance, and babies hummed softly as they learned the art of the afternoon \u201csieste\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/a>Noses pressed to the passenger glass window, we arched our necks up to see the tippity-tops of rocky peaks peeking out left and right. Parking the car at a lake we were originally going to hike to (we weren\u2019t sure if the roads were open), I was really jumping up and down in excitement watching other people mull around with packs, hiking poles, and climbing gear. It was so great to be out here, the Pyranees where I had spent my 23rd year of life, six years ago.<\/p>\n<\/a>This time it was with my life partner and two of my favorite people in the world. We even brought a rope, as we expect the peak to be a series of easier 5.3- 5.4 climbs – which we will do tomorrow. Six and seven-tenth km, rolling hills, many sheep, cows, and horses in the shadow of high-jutting peaks later, we reached the refuge de Pombie at 2032m.<\/p>\n