A calm and long night gives us the energy to get up around 6am, pack the tent (dry) and prepare our usual porridge with powdered milk. The bivouac spot was ideal; we were lulled by the sound of the river and barely disturbed by a wild cat.

The climb to Aurère is brutal, 600m of elevation gain in 2 kilometers, with large stone steps. However, it was well worth it since we find delicious homemade orange juice at the top along the path. We enjoy it before finding a bakery that supplies us with coffee, Macatias, and sandwiches.

A small water point and a beautiful sun finish giving us the energy needed to reach Grand Place, through gorges that inevitably must be descended and then climbed back up, under a sun that is sometimes scorching. The village is made up of small chalets with green roofs, and it doesn’t take us long to down some beers and pitch our tent in a quiet corner of the only campsite.

We enjoy a magnificent evening in the heights, which a hot meal certainly doesn’t spoil. Tomorrow, we’ll meet up with our friend from the GR20, to celebrate William’s birthday.