Carcassonne - the Ancient city, and fantastic

Friday 4th June 2010 At Joseph's recomendation-- thanks Joe I went to the ancient city of Carcassonne... and didn't regret it a second... can't do too much, as I'm sat in McDonalds !! suffice to say for the time being that I'm in full tourist mode, and the views are great !!.... However, not forgetting someones Birthday !! Happy Birthday Anna !

Who said Andorra's a nice country !

Thursday 3rd June 2010 Having set off bright and early for the trek across France, into Spain, and round to Andorra....it was horrible !! I had been warned that Andorra consisted of a big road going straight through the country,but it was worse... the campsites were right on a busy road the climbs that I wanted to do started in the middle of a building site... so, kept driving, and back into France !! Eventually stopping at Nieux for the night.. The only consolation is that we travelled over many mountain passes that day,avoiding all the tolls,saw some great scenery, and saved a load of money on the diesel in Andorra, which was about 18C a litre less than France, and Wally got her tanks filled !! Ah well, could have been worse I suppose..

Blame it all on Rita !!

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

Well, what a day !

Where should I begin...?

Firstly up early, 8 'ish...Wally packed for the road and off to Gavarnie,

where having parked Wally up in the village, I walked up to the Cirque De Gavarnie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavarnie_Falls where the snow had only just melted from the winter, and the views were stupendous.. I could only imagine what it would be like,climbing the frozen waterfalls...although I may have to break the habit of a lifetime,and get a guide to take me !

I wandered up to the bottom of the glacier...and ignoring the 'Danger' signs..went up and onto the glacier at the foot of the waterfall - the highest in Europe, and the entire Cirque being a Unesco World Heritage site,and I could see why!

Having had a pleasant lunch overlooking the Glacier, and the crowds by now starting to arrive (when I got there I had the site almost to myself !)

I set off back to Gavarnie...glad that I'd come early ,as several groups of schoolchildren were arriving, climbing up to the Cirque...some with Priests in tow- must be a day trip out from Lourdes !

I got back into Gavarnie,and decided that, as Rita thought I was having an exciting time - I'd better have one....

and so I set off for the Via Ferrata de Comely http://www.laviaferrata.net/topo-via-ferrata-coumely.html

which having got there, I realised I would ,once again , have all to myself..

As I climbed the side of the Valley, towards the imposing cliff face.. I wondered..should I have paid for a guide (everyone knows the answer!)..

and then the Via Ferrata started , proper, straight up the cliff face, up around sheer rock faces, and ever onward and upward, could this be what Rita expected ??..occasionally I manage dto take some pictures, but mostly I just hung on...although it was good fun..and exciting.

As I neared the top of the cliff I thought it was all over...then I saw the Himalayan wire bridge...not as i saw in the Himalayas..but none the less exciting to say the least !

As I swung over the valley below,and wondered what I was doing there, I thought...it's that Rita woman, she made me do it !

Over the bridge I swung, and reaching the rockface on the other side I thought that was it ! No chance I dropped down slighlty, and then had to swing round the bluff, and an 'airy' traverse followed, before eventually dropping to the trail below, and back to Wally...phew it's amazing the difference in doing these Via Ferrata's in the wet,or dry...

Having got my confidence up...and Thanks Rita !

what else could I do ?

Down the Road to the Via Ferrata Pont Napoleon... http://viaferratafr.free.fr/photos-via-ferrata.php?via=74

Having parked Wally over the bridge, and not even taking my gear off from the last climb I descended to the River..couldn't find my was , but some'real'climbers helped me, and between us managed to work out wherethe start was...straight up the cliff face from the River, and around every Danger face there was...It was great, but I couldn't get many, if any pics.. a very short Via Ferrata...but good fun, and soon I was out on top and back to Wally...ready for a return to the campsite, and maybe a glass of wine !

What a day, it's been good here in the Midi Pyrenees, going to Andorra tomorrow, for a few more days 'Mountain Fun' !

So, until the next time Bonne Nuit !!

Relaxing in the Mountains

Tuesday 1st June 2010

It's a big day, not just 6 weeks away from home...

but,....time to break out a clean towel !!

I know I've washed the other one a few times,but it was starting to look a bit 'grey'...and so I've got the other one out !!

and

4 weeks today (at the latest) I need to be on the ferry on my way home..

so

I've been trying to plan what/where to get to before I've got to dash back !

and

I'm struggling to fit everything in ! can you beleive it...

anyway, apart from planning and working out my routes etc..

I had a 'gentle' ride up into the hills towards Gavarnie...steep,but quite pleasant...and managed to get to Gedre...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A8dre and a shower of warm rain convinced me to turn back down the swift ride home...

a pleasant evening 20 mile ride..

and

the rain had stopped so had BBQ'd lamb chops and salad...very healthy !

Ready for an early start tomorrow..for fun in the hills ??

The Camera's were waiting...Jotown's in Town !!

Monday 31st May 2010

Packed and left my campsite near Lourdes for around 10-30 a.m., and knowing that I was heading for the mountains again decided to drive to Pau to stock up...and update everything I needed to on the computer..needn't have bothered , (got Wifi where I am!).

anyway I headed to Luz Saint Saveur http://www.luz.org/web/EN_Office_de_Tourisme/125-home.php up in The Pyrenees, and decided to have a look around, before stopping at my camp site...

As I got into the village, I saw the famous sign, from the Tour de France ' Col du Tourmalet',one of the famous climbs which frequently rips the heart out of the peloton, and first over the top frequently wins the race...this I had to see..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet describes in some detail the climb, but doing it, even in Wally was hard, and never ending, switch back, after hairpin bend, ever onwards and upwards..

and, once at the top, I gave Wally a breather....but wait, what's this ?

Suddenly I was surrounded by cameramen, and cars swooping to a stop all around me...

.....they must have recognised me, or had they ?

Then the puzzle was solved as the 'Astana' Road cycling team, climbed the Col from the other side, and stopping at the top, were being interviewed -- probably by promotion company for the Tour de France...then arriving up from Luz Saint Saveur came the 'Saxobank' race team, also with a camera team and Gendarmes in attendance...

and who was right in the middle of it all ? - Jotown and Wally !!

Quite a sight, as the two teams started having fun with each other,clearly cracking comments about who had the superior fitness - ready for the Tour , it crosses the Col on the 18th july !! - I'll be watching..

Then,they were off again -each off to opposite sides of the Col...leaving me pondering whether I should do it myself ??

Then I was back to Luz and checked onto my campsite http://www.international-camping.fr/ on a busy road, but seemed pleasant enough..and with the added benefit of Wifi all around..

Having sorted myself out, I had a look around the village trying to find another spot I wanted http://www.deandar.com/ferratas/via-ferrata-napoleon the PontNapoleon Via Ferrata ! seems like it may be good fun...

and along with all this there are lots of mountains to climb all around !

What fun, what shall I do ?? only time will tell !!

Bonne Nuit

Remembering Everyone..

Saturday 29th May 2010

Sunday 30th May 2010

A weekend spent lazing around reading a('nother!) book on Saturday...

and

Sunday got the bus into Lourdes,

and spent the entire day, and evening going to Mass, Benediction ( in several langauges, including English !)

and

praying for various intentions that I had, including ...you lot !!

A brilliant dinner in the evening, followed by the Roasry Candlelight processsion...then ,an expensive taxi back to the camp site..around midnight,

and spilling Red wine on Wally's carpets, when I tried to catch a 'Daddy long legs'...OOOOOps..maybe no one will notice !!

Now I'm moving up to Luz San Saveur...higher in the mountains,

for some more fun.

Au Revoir...