Hike from Berghaus Vereina

Today was another hot and sunny day - I cannot remember such a spell of extended beautiful weather here before. We decided to get the minibus up the valley to a mountain lodge, Berghaus Vereina and then walk back down the valley to the village - a distance of about 15km with a descent of about 800m. Being so hot we decided that coming down was less effort than going up!

When we left the village in the minibus at 9.30am this morning it was already 26C, and by the time we got to Berghaus Vereina the car temperature was saying 16C, although it still felt very hot to me. We had an unexpectedly lovely oat milk cappuccino there, it's a simple mountain lodge serving meals and you can also stay the night, but I did not expect them to have oat milk. It was beautiful sitting on the terrace surrounded by the high mountains with the sound fo the river running close by.

It was about a 4 hour hike down the valley, some parts we were scrambling over huge rocks and other areas were grassy with streams and rivers. This photo was taken in a spot which I think is the highlight of the walk, I have taken this photo before many years ago as I think it is such a beautiful scene with the small pond high up in the mountains - and today there was one lone duck quacking loudly, which Xena found quite intriguing. We even found a toilet stop mid way - a little wooden hut that was beautifully clean, it was only a long drop toilet but it had a proper toilet seat and with loo paper too!

We arrived hot and sweaty and managed to get a late lunch at a restaurant above the village in Monbiel, sitting on their terrace in the shade. I had the most delicious gazpacho soup (obviously served cold) with a very good salad.

Gavin has now gone to play 9 holes of golf with a friend, and after the golf the friend and his wife (they live here permanently) are joining us for a very casual supper. I did warn them that when on holiday I don't cook elaborate meals so not to expect dinner party fare!