 The airmen and their escort were met and conducted to a safe house where they would await favorable conditions for the walk to Spain over the Pyrenees mountains which reached elevations of only about in this region.During the first year of operation, the de Greef's home usually hosted the evacuees, but later a network of safe houses was established.From the safe houses, the evacuees were escorted to country homes and inns near Urrugne, usually traveling by bicycle.