Troll Trek, Series 1 Episode 9: Going Home.

 Day 9

It may have taken 9 days, but today the kids slept late for the first time. This, despite the local church bells having some kind of auditory seizure at seven o'clock.

We were heading home. Some of you may be relieved by that, but we weren't. It had been a great holiday. The new van, Trevor, has proved to be a formidable troll. The kids were impeccably behaved, except when they weren't, and the weather had been within human tolerances. You couldn't ask for more.

To stretch out our return journey we stopped in Camon...

...with its Abbey...

...hidden behind a fortified wall...

....where we met some fellow motor-homers...

...and had our final meal...

...before punishing those two habitual criminals...

So we finally dropped the two wildlings at their home to torment their parents instead.

A sad ending?

Not really...

Troll Trek, Series 1 Episode 8: Going North.

 Day 8

The penultimate day of our grand adventure. 

Well ok, we had booked to spend this time in deepest Africa, but needs must and thrombosis screws up the best laid plans. Despite my covid born handicap, we had seen wolves! Maybe not the painted wolves of Africa, but there is no way they could or should be confined to a fenced off area of forest. They live in the savannah, each pack covering a huge...OK Hyde, stop daydreaming. We have booked to go next year and I need to be healthy to do so. Today would be a test of that health. Would I pass muster?

Spoiler alert: No.

It was time to leave the wolves den.

We headed north, down from the highest heights, descending into civilisation.

Civilisation around here is hot. We were used to the lower temperatures of Andorra. We were back in the thirties again. And full sun.

We arrived in Foix, a large town in the foothills of the Pyrenees. A large town with a large castle, conveniently placed high up over the old town. Very high up.

But first, feeding time in the town square.

As we wandered through the town's narrow streets, the temperature rose.

We were no longer under the protective influence of the pyrenean mountains. The nearly 10℃ difference was killing me.

As we climbed further up towards the top of the lofty castle, I realised that I was not going to make it. 

A painful thought to realise your mortality this way. The others went on ahead to the top of the tower. Climbing towards the sun.

I found shade while awaiting their return.

After a brief period of recovery, we drove around aimlessly to find a spot for the night.

We stopped in a small village where the locals immediately rushed towards us and forced us to take some fresh fruit. That'll sort out those outsiders!

The evening was spent entertaining the kids. 

Although I do sometimes have trouble holding their interest.

You will, I'm sure, be devastated to hear that tomorrow will be the last day of this adventure. 😥

(See it here.)

Troll Trek, Series 1 Episode 7: Going to the Dogs.

We awoke this morning parked next to 'the House of the Wolves' (La Maison des Loups). 

Me? I'd had a good night and felt up to an entire hour of being out with the kids. "Oh good" I thought, "a small park with a couple of wolves. This shouldn't take long..."

Uh, no. 

This park is large and really well run with lots of activities for all ages.

So we spent the entire day in it. 😵‍💫

So much for a quiet peaceful relaxing day...

Sleeping close to nature is good for the soul and brings peace into your heart.

Unless you're a kid. Then it seems to fill you with extreme, constant, indefatigable  energy. Who needs wind turbines? Kids could power the world.

The wildlings ran ahead, we attempted to follow. This 'Wolf House' is big. A large forested area with a close to natural habitat for several species of wolves. 

Erm, like these three for instance...

Yes. This was going to be another day (contrary to my doctors advise) of stressed limbs, fatigue and compromised circulatory systems.

Annick took the easy way...

The kids, meanwhile, were panning for wolves.

Found some! Erm, I'm not convinced that these are real wolves, at least one of them is a unicorn.

Uh oh. Here they are..

And a smaller version...

By lunchtime, having walked halfway around the planet, we thought it about time to hit another restaurant. This one selling wolf burgers.

Cheers!

There was still much to see, so after recharging our aging batteries, we were dragged back into the park to feed the wolves.

Feeding wolves is quite entertaining, even when it involves your grandchildren.

Annick discovers that wolves are less painful than kneeling down...

It is surprising how close you can get to a wolf without serious damage. I never found that with most of the women I've known...

Kindred spirits...

There were even some alternative colour variations for those few remaining fans of Brexit...

It has been a long entertaining, educational, exhausting day. We finally arrived at that moment when the kids go to bed.

Ah no. 

Thus is life...

Thankfully, all human behaviour is reflected in nature.

We are but another species of pack animal.

Good night...

(Next Day Here)

Troll Trek, Series 1 Episode 6: Out of Andorra.

Day 6

Today was not the highlight of our sojourn. The girls went into the nearby highly advertised and highly priced 'Naturland'. Me? I couldn't hack it. The lack of oxygen was becoming a problem.

The local entertainment was impressive but no good for kids (or grandparents) with the exception of a 'farm' that did not even justify its name. 

And a pony ride that only Kaïly was allowed on. She was uncertain, Lyzëa was upset, and Annick is frightened of horses!

Shame I missed all that...

After an amazing traditional English meal of fish 'n chips, and then a siesta obligatoire, we headed north out of Andorra.

En route we needed to find somewhere to empty out the van, not an easy thing to find, after all, you cannot leave all your crap just anywhere. Although the English water companies may disagree.

Andorra is not entirely motorhome friendly. Nor is it entirely pocket friendly. During our first visit to Andorra, many years ago when the kids were young, it was noticeable how cheap everything (except skiing) was. Fast forward to now, with the grand-kids; everything (except pollutants such as fuel and cigarettes), is really expensive. Such is progress.

We stayed the night next to a wolf park near Ax-les-Thermes.

I slept...

(Next exciting episode here)

Troll Trek, Series 1 Episode 5: Into (and nearly out of) Andorra.

Day 5.

Today we hiked. It was a long hike, steeply uphill for the bits that weren't steeply downhill. It was a hike of four (and a bit) quarters.

The first quarter involved a difficult climb up a stony track with two very reluctant grandchildren, with multiple moans and groans and "are we there yet"s. It was very hard going with frequent stops taking twice the time expected.

The second quarter involved a further difficult climb up a stony track with one very old git (me), moaning and groaning. "We need to stop because popi's heart rate is too fast". It was very hard going with frequent stops taking thrice the time expected. 

It was somewhere up here that I had a hazy memory of my consultant's words; "Work up to walking long distances slowly and avoid high altitudes". 

Ooops.

We had finally made it to the summit...

The third quarter involved a very steep downhill climb, taxing my limbs but allowing my heart rate to settle to a more survivable rate.

We then came across the first of two lakes.

Our two young wildlings had found a new source of energy and kept well ahead of us oldlings. The reason for this could have something to do with the newfound knowledge of a restaurant by the next lake ahead.

And so we come to the final quarter. Relaxing, dining. 

Next to a fabulous view...

...with a fabulous bottle of Vieux Chateau Lamothe (small bottle or large glass?)...

...a fabulously healthy meal...

...and a fabulously large bill.

The final 'bit' of the walk was the last descent to the parking area where we had spent the night. Needless to say the kids, now without the promise of a further restaurant stop, regained their previous argumentative dispositions...

We then drove through Andorra and, due to a slight miscalculation of scale, nearly came out the other side. The giant signs saying 'Farewell, come back soon" were something of a giveaway. After berating the gps (as the guilty are oft to do) we rerouted to higher ground. Another mistake.

There are few roads in Andorra, but what roads there are are surrounded by vertiginous harsh mountains and filled with vertiginous harsh shopping malls and apartment blocks. We did finally regain our correct path and made it to the top of another mountain (mysteriously without shopping mall) to spend the night:

Tomorrow we are to return to France. 

After the sleep of the totally knackered...

(Next episode here)