I challenged myself to walk and write every day 
365 hike-ku's come what may

putting down words without trepidation or fear 

alas this writing journey comes to an end

with some regret, i say adieu to my readers and friends

This is the first time for over a week 

that Marc has been able to join us

Milou is happy, as it is both of us for company

or another doggy friend that she does seek

excited barks, frenzied circles chasing but never catching her tail

also birds and butterflies...but to no avail

Milou got to run with her very best mate

the two of them chased each other, long awaited

It was very warm this morning and the afternoon very hot

Taj celebrated by wallowing in the lake

however Milou is still wary and chose ....not

We walked the lake this morning

with a hot autumnal glow

beautiful blue skies and water

as far as a stone could be thrown

Milou and i walked to one of the highest points 

overlooking the Gers

dappled sunlight, and a wooded lane

a pretty chestnut, acorn littered path

spiny cases and leaves adorn in the autumn aftermath

Today our email was lost in the ether

we did not get to meet or greet our pals Taj and Jan

so all did not go according to plan

Milou however, a new beau did find

whom nearer to home we eventually managed to leave behind

A low mist left clouds on the water

the morning is very cool but destined to be hotter

heron and egret shadowed on the lake

plovers and ducks all of a flap, made for a big break

with as per usual, Milou, in hot pursuit, in their wake

A lovely late afternoon walk in the Cardeilhac Forrest

with the sun dappling through the leaves was gorgeous

a beautiful variety of many many trees

Milou and Daisy raced in and out 

until they were practically on their knees

Milou could not believe her luck

as we had a small run before school

then a second along spiky chestnut paths

all bathed in sunlight and laughs

it is now a a favourite trek

definitely our preferred sundeck

As usual a very beautiful but fairly cool morning

on all the trees, yellows and golds are now just forming

Mark and i, had vigorous ideas with our walk

we love the idea of conversing with the countryside

to formulate our talk

We woke early for this mornings ramble

from Larroque, with Milou and pom pom we ambled

we found a huge toad

which we tried to move as it was on the road

sadly we think it might already be injured 

We went a long walk across one of the five mountain ridges

along broad streams next to fields, criss crossed with mini bridges

fields and streams turned to forest

it was truly beautiful

the autumn sun played on the trees 

bright sunshine, but gentle breeze

Milou could not believe her luck

twice today she got to race around and chase the duck

some moved swiftly across the lake

leaving their glittering trails in their wake

others were left unperturbed

intent on their doing, therefore undisturbed

Again a smaller walk

another beautiful sunny day

Milou bounded along the shoreline 

needing someone else to play

Pom pom showed up in the the nick of time

leaping about very much in his prime

We set out late on account i was not much better

Milou was excited to be out, so i just let her

more snow has fallen in the night

visible across the peaks

it will be white again in just a matter of weeks

Today i am not felling well

bad sleep and a nose running like hell

the weather however is beautiful and bright

dancing again like a water sprite

upon the lake

There are signs of a sprinkling of first winter snow

the mountains are just visible, later they are out on full show

clouds and the extraordinary light 

are always a feast to me of pure autumn delight

Today was fragmented for Milou regarding a walk

the weather looked uncertain

by the time we arrived it was a hot sunny day

a bit too hot to run and play

later we did the usual tour

for Milou, Marc and i, it will never be a bore

This morning the heavy mist has moved

the weather , a little colder, is much improved

the sun again plays on the water

individual light crystals dancing on the lake

never sure on which direction they might decide to take

It is wet wet wet, heavy mists and generally grey today

the countryside and gardens need it in every way

Milou waits patiently but does not understand 

why nothing is going, quite the way she planned

Up to Larroque, our favourite part of the lake

this is Marc's preferred route to take

It's pretty the mountains are in view

the cows are sitting down, telling me that their is rain anew

We walked part of an old route

the mountains in majestic beauty carved upon our scape

the view is so breathtaking, nobody could dispute

the air was so sunny and warm

yet tomorrow they forecast a rain and maybe a storm

We went to Thermes to walk the woods and race with Daisy

the adults talked, while the two of them went crazy

standing on their hind legs and boxing each other on the nose

or just thundering towards us, scared of been sent flying

like statues we froze

Milou kept jumping up and down

when i went to work she certainly wore a frown

she was to meet a new and an old beau at five

at the damn car park they did arrive

her new beau handsome, sleek, young and black

all three ran, her new beau, was i think, quite taken aback

The maize has now been stripped of its corn

tall, frazzled but not forlorn

a cooler but beautiful bright autumn light

in contrast clouds against a still but, vivid blue sky

cotton balls of fluffy white

As Autumn unfurls

majestic oaks hurl their fruits to the ground

as we walk along our track 

with a crunching popping sound

Our last romp with Taj and Jan for a couple of weeks

roaming distant shores, somerset is where they ultimately seek

they are in two minds about travelling back

but will meander up the french coast together to make 

a seemingly altogether better break

A new walk on the Monleon ridge

to scrump some very beautiful figs

when the tree is dormant, i will propagate some twigs

Monleon village is pretty, on our walk we wended round

unless on foot you may not appreciate the very town

It would be mum's birthday today

we celebrated that, maybe she was with us in a certain way

an unusual bird followed, not seen before came and flapped around

before preferring a roof top to the ground

Ali, Milou and i went to a high spot in the Gers

reputedly one of the best views from there

sadly this afternoon it was veiled in mist

but still a very pretty spot not to be dismissed

I am sitting, writing this entry to the drumming of rain

this morning, as all of last week was hot and sunny again

the ground is very dry

although my washing is on the line, i heave a heavy sigh

we need this to nurture the ground

that is now looking parched and browned

Today in Monleon we are again up high 

watching people jumping from the sky

our airfield is some kilometre's below

where they are landing and taking off

and putting on quite a show

I am sorry to post this very late

i ran out of time on yesterday's date

Milou and i went for a walk up and around 

the war memorial in our town

as you climb up a steep hill atop

the views are breathtaking ....non-stop

This morning we are noticing a cooler morn

i am more reluctant to leave my bed well after dawn

it is slower now, but it turned into the most beautiful day

lots of sunshine, autumn colours coming, magic in every way

Milou waited very patiently for the end of the day

then a whole circuit of the lake for a foray

the sun was shining and the temperature hot

but a friend to run and play

was not to be today

We had a good walk with our pals Jo and Verlaine

Milou and Verlaine  ran round what is now a beach

inciting each other but just out of reach

a lovely coffee in Joe's in the sun

all beautiful together with the morning run

Milou is is getting brave and paddling in the lake

after her accident i was unsure how long it would take

she was in the water at four months all at a bound

until suddenly there was no ground

she disappeared for a few seconds out of view

then paddling furiously to my absolute relief and laughter too....

she was not amused

The lake is still decreasing

the strata on the rocks, evidence as to what it was

are local surveyor was walking the perimeter

perhaps doing some policing

others were on the lookout for what's in the lake

following around in his wake

Bagnere de bigorre for a picnic and sunny afternoon

majestic mountain scenery and so much more

a museum full of European and local marble

there is so much for us to explore

It's been a hard day's night

and i have been working like a dog

It's been a hard day's night

and i should be sleeping like a log

a fantastic night with the beatlovs!!! french beatles tribute band

Taj and Milou ran round and round

water has given way to gravelly surround

the lac itself has radically shrunk

leaving plenty for mammals and others to bathe and drink

Tonight i am haunted by another hike-u

and something different to tell all of you

i can proclaim that we had an excellent day

but this evening it is all i am going to say

We lost Aramis this morning, he could hear me calling

he was crying, but i did not know where

thinking he was trapped or injured caused me a bit of a scare

an hour later he and Darcie turned up

and their mistress, who had run around town was the only one shook up!

Early for a walk this morning

a slight chill in the air as October is dawning

met with our collie friend

and on their merry ways, they will wend

This morning we all set out on foot from home

for the complete circuit around our lake

about an hour with various photo-calls is all it takes

Pom Pom joins us along the way

Milou and he lollop along and play

A pretty walk through numerous trees

a bit cooler today, and even a breeze

they are trying to rebuild the original park

mixed forest with different types of oak

tall and upright, for hotter months a very welcome cloak

For our excitement and an early view

a flash of orange and azure blue

two kingfishers flashed past from the lake shore

a two second flash of colour and then no more

Today Milou ran

with her mate Taj, I nattered with Jan

the water is very low

muddy banks and hollows, muddy underfoot

they both went in the lake

neither were fit for house or new car boot's sake

A loop around part of the lake from Larroque was our route

before a very convivial lunch

 our atelier at a beautiful house, courtesy of our generous host

where with good food and wine we were all suitably engrossed

It was late when we set off for the lac

walked to the far corner and then turned back

their were joggers and walkers along the track

the heat this afternoon was very intense

so we left it until late this evening...just common sense