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Southern France - Maxi-METHS + AGM 2018

31st Annual Reunion - Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th September 2018

 

Participants:  Gillian (Morticia) and Tony (Lurch) Adams, Edwina and Gordon Beldon, Judy and Mick Ireson, Rhoda (Rhodent) Leslie, Edith Lovie, Mike Macklin, Daphne (DM3) Martin, Mike (Mad) and Verena (Müesli) Petzold, Ester (Molester) Ratsma, Rupert (West Face) and Sally Roschnik, Eric (Polevault) and Valerie Scott, George (Munro) and Val Wallace, Janet and Lloyd (Comrade) Woods

 

So, twenty-one members turned up at St-Paul-de-Fenouillet, some by car, rented or otherwise, some by train and bus, many having first flown to one of 4 different airports – Barcelona, Carcassonne, Perpignan or Toulouse.  It is always amazing how the attendees manage it.

We were well received at the hotel, which we had almost exclusively to ourselves.  Only the Wallaces ended up at a nearby B&B, due to an email that did not reach them in time.

Edwina and Gordon Beldon provided wine every evening at sundowner drinks time, which was very much appreciated by all, many thanks.

The AGM was held at the end of the second day, Thursday, because five participants had decided to leave already on the Friday morning.

We formed two walking groups, an "ambitious" one and an "easy-going" one, for the want of better expressions, led by Rupert and Sally respectively.  This gave some headaches as regards car transport to the various starting places but it all worked out OK in the end.  The groups were not the same every day since there were some changes, in both directions, from one day to the next.  The first group managed the compulsory "three peaks":  Roc Paradet (900 m) from Prugnanes village, Pic Bugarach (1230 m) from the village of the same name, and Canigou (2784 m) from a trailhead near the Refuge des Cortalets, reached by Land Rover from Prades.

Janet Woods contributed a write-up of her "impressions" of the meet and the walks in the first group.  We are grateful for her efforts and have left her account more or less intact.  An account of the activities of the second group follows, also a few extra notes and all the pictures at the end (easier for the webmaster).

 

From Janet – impressions of the AGM meet

Our route to St-Paul-de-Fenouillet took us through the Galamus Gorge – quite a nail-biting drive in a VW camper van but a very awe-inspiring gateway to the meet.

The location was beautiful with the Hôtel Le Châtelet set amongst vineyards in a broad valley between craggy limestone ridges. Our hotel rooms either looked out onto limestone crags or the gardens and nearby River Boulzane. A kingfisher was seen on the first night.

Breakfast and supper were excellent – it was relaxing not having to choose from the menu and the carafes of wine were appreciated by all.

Day 1: Roc Paradet

We all set off in sunshine and the way led us through forest on a soft leafy path, with many scuff marks from, we supposed, wild boar rooting. By the time we reached the summit our jackets were on and we were afforded a view of our goal for day two with its peak in cloud - Pic Bugarach. A good warmup walk – it was great to be joined by Daphne, who was convinced she was not up to it, – but she was strong and even led us on the way down. A black vulture flew out above out heads as we descended.

Day 2: Pic Bugarach

Again we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine. Gillian volunteered for this walk so as to allow the right number of cars, drivers and passengers in each group! It was great to have Gillian and Tony with us on this walk. At the start of the walk Westface discovered that his hiking boots were back at the hotel – he had no choice but to carry on – this did not seem to have any negative impact on his walk! We walked through both forest and grassy areas and were the only ones on the ascent of the mountain. It was great to see insects – a green cricket, a praying mantis, butterflies and grasshoppers. Good too to hear the grasshoppers’ “chorus”. The rocks were distorted and craggy and as we climbed birds (crag martins?) swooped around us and the ridges looked like sleeping dragons below us. The summit afforded us a great view of green mountains and blue sky. A buzzard called overhead as we descended.

The AGM was held outside in the evening sun and Kamuzu hung below the barometer.

Great to be there to celebrate 30 years of Meths and to receive a mug for 10 meets!

Day 3: Canigou

One of the forfeits for attending this walk was that we had to be at breakfast early and to forgo our croissant - so I was quite delighted to find a plate full of warm croissants the next morning! It was a hectic start with an hour’s fast drive with Rupert in the lead and Mick following in his car to rendezvous with a Land Rover and driver who would take us to the start at 2200 m. Once in the Land Rover the adventure really began, as we drove up switchbacks through unspoilt forest reserve. The Land Rover needed to stop and reverse at some of the turns. I think we all had flashbacks to journeys on African roads.

Again we started our walk with blue skies and sunshine - we had left the forest behind and now we walked beside pines and under them broom and rhododendrons with red patches of bilberries further up the slopes. Sadly George was not feeling well and did not walk to the summit with us.

It was a busy route with a variety of walkers in all types of gear even some barefoot and some running down. The summit was hectic and we rested and waited for a turn in front of the summit cross to record our success. Our leader had promised that we could expect cold temperatures and wind at the summit – but the extreme weather did not materialise. A very enjoyable day – Mike who had “lost” his watch at the bottom and left his sunglasses at the summit described the pace as relentless – this was to some extent remedied by a beer at the mountain refuge and then after meeting another walker who had left his wallet and credit cards at the top Mike was left counting his blessings. It was not long, however, before we were bumping our way down again.

Thanks to Rupert and Sally for finding such a great location and venue and for the organisation in getting us from A to B and up and down!! Great to catch up with everyone!

 

The second group

Wednesday.  11 walkers.  Both groups started together at Prugnanes and split after about 1 km, the hares heading uphill whilst the remaining group continued all the way back to St-Paul.  The wine harvest was in full swing in the vineyards as we approached St-Paul.

Thursday.  10 walkers.  We travelled to Grau de Maury col, some went up to Château Quéribus and then we visited Cucugnan village, specifically the windmill belonging to French writer Alphonse Daudet.  A snack/lunch was enjoyed near Peyrepertuse village, then it was a climb up to explore Château Peyrepertuse, and finally back to St-Paul.

Friday.  8 walkers first visited an old Roman aqueduct/bridge near Ansignan, then after coffee went to look for dolmens (Daphne's request), after which Sally had arranged an organised private visit of the Chapter (old church) in St-Paul, followed by a visit to the impressive Galamus gorge.

 

Additional notes

AGM results:  No change in the Office Bearers.  "Awards" were voted for George for driving off one morning with the boot of the car wide open, and to Rupert for forgetting to change his shoes after breakfast on the second day, and only realising this at the start of the walk when he had to remove a small stone from his shoe (see above).  AGM 2019 on the Isle of Arran approved.

Ester seemed surprised to learn that temperatures tend to drop as one climbs high mountains but was unable to experience this for herself because of the mild, sunny and windless weather at the top of Canigou!

On Friday morning Daphne appeared at early breakfast wanting to join the first group.  "Can I go too?"  Rupert said he had only reserved 7 seats on the Land Rover, she would risk staying behind all day at Prades in the valley.  So she joined the other group.

 

Pictures by Daphne, Janet, Rupert and Sally

 

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