GR20 Day 1

Pre dawn breakfast, start walking at first light and uphill all day - 1500m ascent. It’s hot to start with but luckily we ascend in pace to stay the right side of heat stroke. Picnic at a fabulous col. The ‘refuge’ we stay at tonight burnt down a few years ago and is not yet rebuilt. We’re in tents on wooden platforms. Showers are cold but no queue for the ladies. At one point a large flock of goats marauded through, there are chickens under the dinner tables, tents and people everywhere - it feels like arriving at a refugee camp! But hey we’ve done day 1.