A rebel without a clue.

Final day and it's raining. A good week so far, although a little cool when the breeze picks up. Yesterday Lola, Ruby and I managed the long one to the derelict WW2 munitions factory part between Thorp Arch Trading Estate and the restored railway viaduct, but since then Ruby and Lola have been pretty sparked out. Lola is now getting beyond those walks: although she loves the adventure, but the end she's so frazzled ... Perhaps it's time to reduce the 'long' one to something better as she creeps towards 8. Ruby is nearing 5 so can keep going, but that was a new place yesterday so she's snoozing processing all the sights and sounds enveloped in the wilderness which has sprung out of 80 years of tree growth on that site of national importance... Porridge and another reset day as they return to Wetherby from Rome this afternoon. No allotment with the weather as it is ... I've picked up a slight sniffle since I returned to the UK. Although I kept my distance the ...

I guess I was a little sleep deprived yesterday - don't let Ruby share a bed: to say she's so petite she hogs the bed more than Lola ever does. She's decided she likes being under the covers with me - like Lola - but tends to move against me during the night ... I've begun wondering if she gets a little cold at night and likes to 'snuggle' up by pushing me to the edge of the bed I am allocated during my sitting duties. She slept in the front bedroom after going out at 1 to tell whatever it is at the bottom of the garden to sod off. But I'd already been asleep some time by then ... Porridge again this morning. Just a little too much meat the first two days here with chorizo, sausages, chilli chicken, pizza with bacon and pepperoni. Yesterday I went to the allotment and brought back purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens and rhubarb and now mother is fighting for her segment when I suggested I leave it for Maureen ...

A quiet start to Wednesday. Ruby's pretty exhausted from the two parts of yesterday. She's had breakfast and returned to bed - well curled up next to me on her sofa. We weren't late getting back from Harrogate. Just a couple of hours change of scenery and a good half an hour along the Stray to West Park. Crossing the road near the Prince of Wales roundabout is difficult and I almost got run over as the delivery driver didn't see me until the last moment even though I was signalling at him. Eight am and helicopter drifts over head... And my attention has switched to Basel next Wednesday for a bit more walking. Mother thinks she's away from the 12th and I didn't get a confirmation date for cataract surgery yesterday when I spoke to St James Hospital eye clinic. Ruby rearranges herself and watches the birds come and go with a sigh and a yawn. Her belly groans as does mine. It's overcast and cold. Yesterday was the best day for being out so far...

First full day with Ruby. Had a great evening's sleep. Awoke naturally at 5:30am decided to get up. An hour later I wriggled with Ruby on their bed, then she came downstairs, thought about going out for her toilet, but it's too cold, and demanded her breakfast and some more. Must have used all her strength and energy while running around on Crowcroft Bank - Lola was also exhausted when I took her home around noon. Just Ruby and I this morning, going to walk up to the allotment with her, via King's Meadow, it's a little cold on the evening - for the butt end of April (a little frost) - so may wait to transplant lettuce, cabbages and more beetroot? Looks better Saturday morning... Got the governments promised Cost of Living payment so paid some of the debt from France off. The rest will have to wait until summer... Although I am not 100% about it I have checked in online for the proposed trip to Germany, via Basel, where I'd planned to connect with Michael for another...

Seven o'clock at the end of my way. Food then bed. Long day. But I reached the coast, but didn't see the sea. Argeles-sur-Mer, but I stayed put. Caught the bus back to Perpignan around 5 and hung around in the centre just to eat then returned to the Auberge du Jeunesse, where I had already checked in. And it's a Sunday. An interesting six days walking. Pretty relentlessly. Some pains and some bites, definitely yesterday and Friday. But I have antihistamines... And I saw spring from a Mediterranean and alpine prospective, before returning to the UK as spring unfolds there too: it's definitely my favourite season, for a change... Crossed over La Tét to walk up to the airport which is around 5kilometres away. On my final morning. It's been a worthwhile, but slightly costly, affair. But entirely worth it. Being away somewhere where comprehension of a language is barely sufficient is like being somewhere on a silent retreat. I never hear the thoughts passing people's...

What next? Why back into France over the top. I simply don't fancy Figueres this time and I've a white and red stripe for company - a French walking sign on the Chemin Saint-Jacques or GR route... As they often intertwine. ... At the end of a hard shift I am back in Place du Neuf Jets awaiting a slap up meal from 19:15 onwards. Lap of luxury and I've 'earned' it - such bullshit. I am just having this good moment after all those preceding billions of billions since 6am this morning... By the time I'd taken many many wrong tracks in the forest trying to locate Maçanet de Cabrenyn, crossing over rapids for hopefully the last time, I couldn't decide whether to keep south to Figueres or head over the Col to Céret for a second bite of its cherries... In the end I took the short straw to a long endurance day up to Coll de Pou de la Neil and then exhilarating, but exhausting, long way down to Céret where it was a beer, a shower, a beer, food, a beer, a beer and bed....

Tapis is silence indeed and yet more strange dreams throughout the night: but I don't remember the themes this time I just recall feeling insubstantial or incomplete within them. A bit early for breakfast at the restaurant next door and attached to the hostel/hotel. I've a sunrise to myself as the hostess said eight for breakfast, but I can't wait so long really as I've one more day walking... Perhaps all the way to Figueres. If I don't walk today it won't be completed and will remain insubstantial. I rang the buzzer and am in the Can - which is Catalonian for Casa. Many many dogs: at least 5. One old and asleep in the bar area who looks a bit snappy. They don't understand English so show their teeth and their eyes so I can see the whites, but two Dalmatians still happy to say good morning! And it's breakfast of champions again... Tostados con Tomate.