WE'RE HAVING A HEATWAVE - so what do you do?

The forecast predicts a 15 day heatwave, 30 degree averages in the north of France and 38 in the south. I think it's currently 25 degrees at 2pm on our 'cool' north facing terrace in the shade, so it's too much for me to be in the sun - my tolerance level to heat is lowering yearly.
So what do you do? Well firstly walking is transferred from an afternoon to morning activity, many French organised walking groups set off at 8.30 am, now I am a morning(ish) person but that's definitely not for me - happy to get out of bed early, but I like to ease my way slowly into the activities of the day.
So it was to be a 10am kick off for our rando' on Saturday, but the OH emerged from bed with the glad tidings we had to wait in for a parcel delivery, oh how I curse his internet shopping habit.
Reschedule - 3pm departure.

All in all it did not go as expected, my knee was playing up again - always does after a prolonged gardening session, then we missed our first turn off, and it was quite warm, so the length was curtailed.

Anyway. The walk started in Langlade quite a nice hameau, yet another place that falls into the category of  'a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live here', for the usual reason that its about a 15 minute drive to get bread and milk, further for anything else and should you meet any vehicles coming in the opposite direction on the road, I for one would be reduced to a quivering puddle of tears as I don't do reversing and the edge of the road has the tendency to disappear off down the mountain precipitously.
For the second day in a row we were accosted by some locals en route, looking for - not a lost dog this time, but 2 lost donkeys, such is life in the Languedoc.

There were lots of butterflies but they appear to have been camera shy. 

We followed the GR 77 downhill for a bit, then turned off  along some forestiere routes to join up with the 'Marche des memories', the plan had been to continue upwards following the 'Route forestiere de Rouvials' up to the top of the ridge at the Lac de Vezoles and come down the spectacular 'Mille marches' path. But we reconsidered and cut across the 'Sentier des Gardes' and back on to the GR77  to re-encounter the donkey searches, minus donkeys, but we were told they were fine and happy staying in Langlade for the meantime (they obviously don't feel the need of milk and bread). It wasn't a long walk but it was 2 hours to complete on such a day.

A pipeline bringing water from the Lac de Vezoles cuts through the forest,

you eventually end up walking under it. 

 

As you connect with the GR77 again the sound of tinkling water is heavenly on a hot day.

 

 

Tomorrow we're off for a walk in the heat of the plain, I'm guessing 38 degrees is more than likely.