Above Prats Balaguer

Today I walked up as far as the Refuge Pastoral with the walking club. It was good to get into the high mountains again above 5000 feet where the flora and fauna change to mountain pasture and rocky valleys and where you can sometimes spot isards and marmots. We passed the ruined castle at Prats Balaguer and then a rock worn smooth by centuries of workers sharpening their tools on it, We also visited a spot where one of the walking group had asked to have his ashes buried. His rucksack is in a hollow covered with stones with a commemorative plaque on the outside. It was Marie's birthday so there were, as is usual, aperitifs and a long lunch. On the way back through the village we visited a local art potter. His work was very impressive and not very expensive. I asked him how many hours a particular piece had taken. He said he did not count his hours. Clockmakers used to be the same. He is one of a rare breed.

There is a Flickr set here.