The hunter

It fell to me to organise today’s walk as our usual leader has torn a calf muscle skiing and will be out of action for some while. I decided we would walk a circuit above the village of Marquixanes, 14 kilometres and 370 metres of climbing. it was a pleasant day for walking, sunny at times and not too hot. We were a little worried as we passed the hunters in their seats on both sides of the valley as their dogs pushed wild boar up to the valley head. There is an uneasy relationship between walkers and hunters as the former believe that the latter restrict access to the countryside or make it dangerous. The hunters are always supposed to shoot downwards, never across footpaths, and never in the direction of any settlement. New laws have been introduced to make it illegal for a hunter to be drunk in charge of his gun. However, there are usually several accidental deaths each year. We heard a couple of shots, but managed to avoid the bullets!