Troll-Trek Series 1 Episode 11: The Misty Mountains.

To escape the bugs, we head for damper climes. 

We are to spend the next four days in our Hydeaway deep in the Pyrenees. The deep, dark, and decidedly damp Pyrenees.

Well, it turns out that the damp is a pleasant change, as is the lack of bugs. Even the cottage itself is pleasantly lacking in its usual complement of flies. 

In the last blog (here) I ranted about the garden's insect inhabitants. What I omitted to mention was the plague of bugs inside the house. 

These things come in various colour, having evolved to look like leaf litter. They get everywhere. And I mean everywhere. The other day, on returning from our morning walk into the village for our daily shop and fill of healthy vibes, I removed my hat, only to have a good twenty of these bloody things fall out all around me. They had presumably spent the previous forty minutes wandering aimlessly through my hair without me even realising it! Possibly a clue to how sensitive I am?

Harmless to us humans, their numbers presumably affect my garden plants in some way, BUT, be careful. Don't squish them. They're not called stink bugs for nothing. In France they are called 'punaise', which is also a very commonly used swear word. You can see why...

Anyhow, back in the Pyrenees...

...the warmth of the sun is yet to arrive, so the local wildlife search for alternative sources of heat.

Don't try this at home...

Thankfully, sheltering indoors gives an opportunity to organise a treasure hunt...

...causing both amusement and bemusement.

Once the weather improves we set off hunting wildlife. 

Approach with care.

Good capture!

Talking of wild animals...

So here's a first attempt at time-lapse photography. 

Dawn to Dusk in the Pyrenees.

Now we head north. After a short stopover in Montauban, we are to continue on our brave adventure to the heart of medieval France. The Loire Valley. Hold on to your halberds....