Shared Illusions

Someday I will remember that reality has plans of its own. Yesterday I was confident that today’s hike would be a simple matter,  featuring a nearly one thousand foot drop in elevation over a moderately long trek.   I was certainly in for a surprise.  Nested been the two end points of today’s hike was over 1500 feet in elevation gains.

Here is the graphic for today.

If you would like to view the replay,  it can be found here.

In addition to misjudging the elevation profile,  I also misjudged the accuracy of the AllTrails map.   Apparently, since the Alltrail map was generated,  the group that maintains the Grand Randanné has made significant changes  to the GR700 as it approaches the Ales metropolitan area.  While in the middle of a forest where the waymarking was a bit vague, I trusted the AllTrails map guide  to resolve an inconsistency and we ended up in an area where the we were separated from the trail by a fence, and there were no waymarkings to follow.  Fortunately, there are plenty of trails that can be located on Google Maps, so we eventually found ourselves and the official trail.  I guess it is adventures like this that keep us traveling.

We had considered taking a rest day tomorrow in Alès, but we did a ChatGPT query, asking whether there is any good reason to spend a few days in Alès and Chat said, “Meh!.”  Actually, I need to correct the record, since Paula is averse to me taking license in my stories. We did not queriy ChatGPT.  We got that information from Wikipedia.  However,  we will be taking a couple days off in Nimes starting on Monday.  We understand it is a beautiful city with a rich heritage.

Here are a few photos from the day.

I would have added pictures from the time we we were wandering in the forest, but we didn’t know where we were.

Four more walking days to St. Gilles