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199803 [2016/05/14 09:19] – [Kakadu: Help Safeguard This World Heritage Area] kennettj199803 [2016/05/14 09:21] (current) – [Selling the Parks] kennettj
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 ====== Viva La Difference - Or Walk in the Pyrenees ====== ====== Viva La Difference - Or Walk in the Pyrenees ======
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 by Peter Rossel by Peter Rossel
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 At about 10am we left Sare and followed a narrow track towards the Spanish border and subsequently the small village of Ainhoa, where we arrived at noon. The track wound through attractive undulating farming and forestry country. En route we met a group of local hunters who proudly displayed the one hare they had bagged. Invitations were extended to come to Australia and hunt our “cochons sauvages” (wild pigs), roaming the country side in abundance. Eyes lit up, hands were shaken and it was “bon chasser et au revoir”, whilst they wished us “bon courage et bon route”. At about 10am we left Sare and followed a narrow track towards the Spanish border and subsequently the small village of Ainhoa, where we arrived at noon. The track wound through attractive undulating farming and forestry country. En route we met a group of local hunters who proudly displayed the one hare they had bagged. Invitations were extended to come to Australia and hunt our “cochons sauvages” (wild pigs), roaming the country side in abundance. Eyes lit up, hands were shaken and it was “bon chasser et au revoir”, whilst they wished us “bon courage et bon route”.
  
-After lunch we followed the steep track to col de Trois-Croix (570m), presenting spectacular views of sunny valleys and mountain slopes all around. The col was an alpine meadow with a small chapel and three huge crosses symbolising the crucifixion. Next came col - Zucutta about an hour away. The unmarked track, littered with stones and rocks slowed our progress, but gradually improved and became alpine meadows. On top we stretched out to enjoy the views and find the down hill track to Ferme Esteben. After some wandering around, the well hidden track was located even faint traces of white and red paint markings indicating the GR - 10 could be seen on a rock face.+After lunch we followed the steep track to col de Trois-Croix (570m), presenting spectacular views of sunny valleys and mountain slopes all around. The col was an alpine meadow with a small chapel and three huge crosses symbolising the crucifixion. Next came col - Zucutta about an hour away. The unmarked track, littered with stones and rocks slowed our progress, but gradually improved and became alpine meadows. On top we stretched out to enjoy the views and find the down hill track to Ferme Esteben. After some wandering around, the well hidden track was located even faint traces of white and red paint markings indicating the GR-10 could be seen on a rock face.
  
 Ferme Esteben is an isolated farm with a small restaurant and gite d'etappe. The farmer told us a German couple was staying in the hut but no other visitors had been here for quite some time. The stone hut offered great views of the valleys below and could accommodate about fifteen people comfortably. Once settled we sat around for a chat and a cup of tea before going to the farm for dinner. The farmers wife served a tasty and generous meal supplemented by caraffes of Spanish red. It was late when the party broke up and had a last look at the clear, star sprinkled sky before turning in for the night. Ferme Esteben is an isolated farm with a small restaurant and gite d'etappe. The farmer told us a German couple was staying in the hut but no other visitors had been here for quite some time. The stone hut offered great views of the valleys below and could accommodate about fifteen people comfortably. Once settled we sat around for a chat and a cup of tea before going to the farm for dinner. The farmers wife served a tasty and generous meal supplemented by caraffes of Spanish red. It was late when the party broke up and had a last look at the clear, star sprinkled sky before turning in for the night.
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 The reason for the presentation of the strategy reports is unstated. There can be no reason for them other than to open the parks to off road vehicular and equestrian access and to raise revenue from commercial development. The access report was no doubt inspired by the desire to win the support of the anti-conservation lobby, as was the reduction of the nominated Wollemi Wilderness by over 100,000 ha., but it may well enhance the overwhelming support for conservation measured in opinion polls, which was a factor in the election of the Carr and Howard Governments. The object of the tourism report is to provide justification for the raising of revenue by the commercialisation of parks at the expense of the natural environment.   The reason for the presentation of the strategy reports is unstated. There can be no reason for them other than to open the parks to off road vehicular and equestrian access and to raise revenue from commercial development. The access report was no doubt inspired by the desire to win the support of the anti-conservation lobby, as was the reduction of the nominated Wollemi Wilderness by over 100,000 ha., but it may well enhance the overwhelming support for conservation measured in opinion polls, which was a factor in the election of the Carr and Howard Governments. The object of the tourism report is to provide justification for the raising of revenue by the commercialisation of parks at the expense of the natural environment.  
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 ====== February 1998 General Meeting ====== ====== February 1998 General Meeting ======
199803.txt · Last modified: 2016/05/14 09:21 by kennettj

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