A long day

No rest for today.
Starting opposite the monastery we went up and up and up and up - for about 1500m along a well graded route. It began in the forest, came out into meadows with grass and flowers up to 6ft high (we didn't lose anyone here), then to open grassy hillside at this col. There was a group of horses and foals but they didn't pose in front of the best view.
From here we went along the sides of the hills to the right to another col, after which there was a wide shallow valley with a shepherd and his flock. Then some more up to a broad col, at about 2600m, with stupendous views across to the mountains we were going to climb the next 2 days.
Having all that up meant there was a lot of down, grass, juniper scrub then forest, the last several km were gently uphill. It took a little longer than expected as we left one person behind at a junction (he'd gone to hide in the trees and didn't say) and then we took a wrong turn but it did save us a bit of hill!
Total day 21km and 1600m up, at least 7hrs actual walking - but great hotel and food at the end of it.