Artwork by David...Very Impressive !!

Recent visitors should have now sen the impresive artwork done by my son David.. Fantastic, and well done David, it's a brilliant start to the blog...my only contribution was ...posing for the camera !! Any artwork needed by anyone, I can introduce David to you...for a small fee !!

Germany calling ...and I didn't even know the World Cup had kicked off !

Friday 25th June 2010 I'll have to fully update my blog when I get home...next week. Briefly in the last week I continued around Molina de Ledro, near Lake Garda in Italy... the 'free music festival' was washed out,it poured down all weekend, but managed to finish my books, and doze... Then it brightened up Monday. so tackled a (what I would now describe) fairly gentle Via Ferrata from Briecesca, Tuesday took a nifty climb on the road bike in the hills, nearly wiping out a mountain biker, who didn't bother to look behind him as I was about to whistle by him at 30 mph, and he decided to wonder whether his path meandered all over the road - like him- anyway a wonderful 2 wheel slide, bald patches on both tyres...and wonderful judgement...managed to avoid him..and keep me upright !! and it was supposed to be an easy day ! Wednesday a great, and aptly named Via Ferrata 'Ernesto Che Guevara'was tackled in ferocious heat, and blinding sun, up a 1200 mts rock face, of sheer limestone, draining every drop of fluid from my body.. and testing the endurance of the mighty 'Jotown', who having completed this feat...promptly got lost on the way down, and ended in the wrong valley...a $25 euro taxi ride saw me back with Wally !! Thursday and Friday saw me travelling across the high mountain passes from Italy, into and across Austria, and then up through Germany,arriving in Munster early Friday afternoon, (thanks to TomTom) for a weekend with Grandchildren Ethan and Elijah, and their Mum Sarah..whilst Dad Gerard was 'swanning'in the Dessert heat of Afghanistan !! Of course it's only when I got here that I realised why all the cars were sporting the German flags...it's England V Germany Sunday afternoon ... should be an interesting weekend !!

Still on the Road...and having fun in the Mountains..

Hi everyone sorry I've not been able to update my blog, internet connections, and greedy campsites prevent me at the moment from telling you all that has happened..!! I've survived though... Since my last blog.. I've had a few days on the Cote D'Azur where I cycled into st Tropez, met up with Jackie and Joan, frinds from Home, and got cooked dinner from them - thanks ! Also had a day sightseeing in Monaco/ Monet Carlo... I then headed up into the hills behind Nice, and Monaco, and had 3 great days frightening myself to death, doing different Via Ferrata routes...and staying out 'wildcamping' in the mountains, at very isolated spots, including various sights as the 'fireflies' dancing in the woods at night ! Great..and left just in time before all the torrential rains and flash floods in the area...well done Wally ! I then travelled to Italy, and stayed for 3 days with Lynne,(Susan's childhood friend) her husband Fabrizio and daughter Elizabeth, who all treated me like Royalty, fed me, took me sightseeing around Chiavari,took me to a very good 'Michelin' restaurant...and most importantly..did me washing ! Thanks to you all.. I've now travelled to the Lake Garda area, and am staying at Molina de Liedro, which I will use as a base to do some Via Ferrata's around the area, after the weekend Music Festival (free!!) which takes place around the area.. Then by next Friday 25th June I should be with my Grandchildren Ethan and Elijah, and their Mum Sarah,in Germany ...before travelling home on the ferry on the 28th June (now booked !!) I'll be able to tell more next week !!

Nearly at St Tropez

Sunday 6th June 2010 Hi everyone I can't get a quick connection now, so my posts will be rather brief, and won't have pics in !! Left Carcassonne early Sunday morning and travelled across France to the South Coast. As me and Wally travelled through sleepy villages - avoiding the toll routes, and saving money ! we went through the Camargue.. fantastic sights, Flamingoes basking in the waters, Rice fields,flooded either side of the Road, and eventually arrived in Les Isaambres.. near Frejus on the South Coast, and up the road from St Tropez.. and checking in the 'Paradis Au Campeurs'...not where I looked anyway for 15$ a night I can't complain !! and I'm right next to the Sea...under a road tunnel...so watched the sun go down over the sea.. sweet dreams !!

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 !!