Walking in Capcir

Capcir - walk the same trails as John in the novel

Walking through the Pyrenees

 Starting the tour de CapcirA short minibus journey takes us into the Capcir, a high bowl of lakes pasture and forest surrounded by mountains and known locally as "Petit Sibire" (little Siberia) which tells you a lot about its winters. We start walking from the pretty village of Matemale and skirt the eastern side of the Capcir in a long day of forest tracks and paths, with cracking views across to the Puig Carlit (our eventual high point of the week, and the highest peak in the area, even higher than the famous Canigou). Skirting the lake of we cross its dam to the old village of Puyvalador then on up a beautiful side valley to the hamlet of Espousouille.

CamporellsWe leave our friendly gite d'étape and follow the Vall de Galba upwards into the mountains. A good path takes us to the remote and beautiful Camporells refuge (bunk beds, outside toilet, basic food). A gorgeous spot.

Traverse of the PéricsThe two mountains in front of the hut are the little and big Pérics. We will climb them both by some extremely steep paths followed by a descent involving a bit of scrambling, down the northeast ridge. Vistas of mountains all round, a good chance of seeing vultures, and possibly a lammergeier. We traverse the Puig de la Cometa and drop down to the even more remote hut of D'En Beys. Similar accommodation.
Into the Vall d’Orlu
We leave the Camporells and retrace our steps of day 4 briefly before heading up the mountain to the Estany del Diable, the Lake of the Devil! We cross the ridge and descend steeply into the Orlu valley. We make our way up to the remote Refuge d’En Beys.

Puig CarlitHopefully you had a good rest because this is the big one. An early start heading south down the very remote valley then we strike steeply up the western flank of Puig Carlit, at 2921m the highest peak in the Capcir, and in this part of the Pyrenees for that matter. Tremendous views from the top. We then descend a long rough path followed by wanderings on green pasture next to a multitude of shimmering lakes, with semi-wild herds of horses. Finally we drop down to the huge Bouillouses reservoir and cross its dam to get to the relatively opulent Bouillouses refuge. We can even go out to dinner, as there is a bar/restaurant next door!

Completing the circleA relatively relaxed start and we soon strike off into the forest. Coming out onto alpine pasture we skirt the Lac d'Aude and easily ascend Mont Llaret behind it. Superb views of our previous adventures. A steep descent through the forest brings us out onto a forest road and down to the beautiful lake of Balcere with its little cafe and ardent anglers. From here we follow the forest track to the village of Les Angles. The lake of Matemale glitters below. We descend and skirt the lake (possibility of a swim) then a short pleasant walk through open woodland takes us back to Matemale, and we are soon back at the hotel.

Further infomration can be found at the Pyrenees walking website .

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Pascal on the Pyrenees...

“There are truths on this side of the Pyrenees, which are falsehoods on the other.”

Blaise Pascal


You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Plotting a novel is like sex

Plotting is like sex. Plotting is about desire and satisfaction, anticipation and release. You have to arouse your reader's desire to know what happens, to unravel the mystery, to see good triumph. You have to sustain it, keep it warm, feed it, just a little bit, not too much at a time, as your story goes on. That's called suspense. It can bring desire to a frenzy, in which case you are in a good position to bring off a wonderful climax.

But also

Plotting isn't like sex, because you can go back and adjust it afterwards. Whether you plan your story beforehand or not, if the climax turns out to be the revelation that the mad professor's anti-gravity device actually works, you must go back and silently delete all those flying cars buzzing around the city on page one. If you want to reveal something, you need to hide it properly first.
(Colin Greenland)

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Reading and writing

"The novel is an event in consciousness. Our aim isn't to copy actuality, but to modify and recreate our sense of it. The novelist is inviting the reader to watch a performance in his own brain. " - George Buchanan

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Available in print

The popular novel  Capcir Spring by Jean de Beurre has been published by CreateSpace and is available on Amazon in the UK and USA. 

The ISBN numbers are ISBN-10: 1477574964  ISBN-13: 978-1477574966

In the US you can find the book here.  for just $7.99

In the UK the book can be found here...  for just £5.99

If you have not got a Kindle you can still enjoy this book.

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Capcir Spring kindle novel - character profiles number 2: John

John is

• forty something years old
• a Roman Catholic priest
• A Jesuit
• who has very human failings 
• is in a remote area of France to think about his vocation
• has been working at a church based counselling centre in the inner city
• is a trained and accredited counsellor
• left catholic school for seminary and has been in the church all his life
• is at a crisis point in his life
• is perceptive and open yet embarassed about his own recent history

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you

Character studies number one - Mary

Mary

• Mary is the heroine.
• She is researching the Cathars in the French Pyranean mountains for her academic career. 
• Since the end of her marriage she has devoted herself to historical research and wants to be a professor.
• She is in her 30s, blond, intelligent and many consider her stunningly attractive. 
• She is very sensitive to atmospheres and has a lively imagination. 
• Mary has given up on relationships after the failure of her marriage in a painful and violent way.
• She has seen the church at work from the inside and is suspicious of the motives and actions of the clergy. 
• A single minded determination to become someone known in her own right for her own achievements is deeply embedded in her psyche
• This novel describes how, whilst pursuing her academic goals, her world is turned upside down and the possibility of another future emerges.
• It is a novel which contains intrigue, crime, romance, mystery in a beautiful setting and with a credible historical background based on recent research.
  

You can get your copy of my ebook  "Capcir Spring"by clicking HERE if you are in the USA or here if you are in the UK  Thank you