Stage 2: Gabas to Laruns, approx 14 km, total descent 1200 m, and 170 km with a change of four buses.
For some unknown reasons, or a happy accident, we took the wrong alternative GR route, and we realized it when it was too late to fix it. Later, when we arrived to Laruns (Aquitaine, France) and stayed for one night at the local camping, we understood that all this coincidence was only for our benefit. The camping staff told us that there was no access to Gourette, where we planned to go next day, as the recent great storm washed out the roads and flooded all hiking paths and there was no way to get there. The news were extremely upsetting, however, we had to find a way out of a situation, and we decided to skip the most beautiful part of all GR 10 route and start hiking from Luchon. What we can do? As Pablo Picasso sad, "You cannot go against nature. She is stronger than the strongest of men. We can permit ourselves some liberties, but in details only."
The next day we had a several bus transfers because of the SNCF rail strike, and we had no other way than bus options only and it took us much longer to get to our final destination of the Stage No 2 - Bagnères-de-Luchon, charming spa town in the Haute-Garonne department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. We decided to stay here for two nights at the local camp, and celebrate the Summer Solstice.
Bagnères-de-Luchon is a dynamic small town dedicated to fitness, well-being and sport. Also, Luchon is a famous spa town of the Pyrenees with renowned thermal baths. The range of sporting activities it offers all year round, in summer as in winter.
Short break was over, and again we were heading to the mountain's summits and wilderness.
"I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature." [Paulo Coelho]
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