Day 2 TMB: Views just get better by the minute!

We actually felt pretty good this am. Glad we could get out of bed! Absolutely gorgeous views along a mountain stream for the first hour, then up strange flat boulders (met a pickup coming down in one place - freaky!), passed a huge waterfall drop called the Notre Dame de la Gorge, saw a stuffed deer in a strange place, then a grand canyon valley opens up and we go gradually UP a rocky trail for 4,200 feet to Col de Tricor. Gorgeous sunny day and the views just got better by the minute. Arrived at spectacular Refuge du Bonhomme in the middle of NOWHERE about 2 pm, checked in, got a chocolate brownie and cup of cocoa and sat on the hillside for a couple hours just soaking up the sun. Rain is predicted tomorrow and many are freaking out about the weather on their phones - as if there are other options! Ten miles to the next stop and there is really no choice but to walk there - don't think the local helicopter would give a taxi ride. Can you just imagine making dinner for 120 VERY hungry people? Bowls and plates passed around the table, then comes soup, veggie, main dish, and dessert. This place runs on generators and solar heaters and candlelight after dinner for cards, games, and conversation. Pretty cool!  We sit with a French couple, Pascal and Marie, and between pantomiming and sign language and bits and pieces of each other's language, we have a really good conversation. Pascal is biking across the US next year and may come spend a couple days with us! We share a room of bunks with two Aussies, a Brit woman and her mom. Will try to dream of sunshine, but psyching ourselves up for some weather...