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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2898 |
13th September 2012 Hiking - Walking: Roche du Pretre,France Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: cloudy Max Speed: Distance Covered: Thursday 13th September - walk ***** Roche du Pretre - mainly cloudy We had a good night and woke to eight Chamoix in the field in front of the van :) Did our exercises in the car park this morning. Set off to walk down the Val de Consolation. It was a pretty steep path down so we knew it was going to be a hard slog back! The first place we came to was La Scie Dessus but it just looked like a field so carried on to the Grande Grotte – a huge cave which you could walk into. Apparently sometimes it has a torrent of water flowing through it but it was ok today. There were climbing ropes in the ceiling of the cave leading to a gap in the roof. After exploring that we set off for the Grand Cascade du Lancot. To get to it you had to walk along a very narrow muddy path with sheer drops off to the left. Then there was a metal staircase of 177 steps (you can see it from the top) which had been very damaged by either a falling tree or rock. When we got to the bottom of it there was tape wound around it to say the path was shut and condemned! They didn’t tell you that at the top though. We ducked under that and got to the top of the water fall which starts with the Source du Tabouret – the water just gushes out of the rocks. We decided to go to the bottom and arrived at the Parc de Consolation where several waterfalls and sources meet. Followed the path to look at the whole 43m of the Grand Cascade tumbling down the rocks. Mag noticed that one of the discs on my new walking poles was missing (I love them – from the lovely Lidl for £10 –I also have gaiters from TK Max so I really look the part nowadays). Mag held them for me and walked about 100 yards while I was taking photos so Mag asked me if it was missing before she had them and I was sure it wasn’t so we looked all around the path but we couldn’t find it. There were a few people about but we had the place to ourselves most of the time and we were the only people to walk from the top! We started to make our way back up because we thought we were still a long way from the monastery. We kept our eyes open for the disc all the way up to the source of the waterfall and just as we got there I found it so it had been missing for ages! We walked back up the broken stair case and were just on the narrow path when I said ‘Oh No’ and my bloomin camera lens hood had fallen off and rolled down the sheer drop! Of course I couldn’t just let it go because I could see it at the bottom of the slope leading to the cliff edge by a tree. So I set off with my walking polls to try and get it!! I did ok till about 2/3 the way down when I slipped and started to slide on my bum! It was ok to start with and not too worrying but then I started to speed up out of control and was heading for the edge! There were 3 trees right on the edge (and the hood was right next to one), Mag thought my fall would be broken by one of the trees but I then started to veer to the left to where there was a gap!!!! By that time Mag was shouting ‘Stephen Stop’ which would have done me no good whatsoever of course! Luckily I did stop but my momentum forced some soil to move and moved the bloody hood nearer the edge! I edged forwards and got it, put it in my pocket and started a very slow and precarious return journey. What a worry I am – another near death experience, I could so easily have gone over the edge but I live to hike another day! That is the second time the lens hood has been a problem, the last one disappeared into a canal in Nottingham! It was a very long steep drag back up to the top including another metal staircase of 77 steps. The whole trip took us 4 hours and considering we haven’t had a major hike for ages we did really well. Decided to stay here tonight so took it easy, ate lunch, read, dozed and played phase 10. It was a really good game which we were surprised at as there are only the two of us and we usually play with a lot of people and it drags on forever! Walked down to the view point again because we had seen some birds of prey earlier which were so big we didn’t know if they were eagles (they are on the board as being here) so wanted to have another look. We have seen red kites (our best view ever), buzzards and a peregrine falcon while we have been here :) Also a lovely little crested tit –We think they are our favourite with the punk tuft on their heads :) We met a really nice german couple who were very chatty. Back to the van for a very thrown together tea! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3972768310279.2154244.1012660562&t ype=1&l=f605c0a128 Friday 14th September – travelling with a little walk *** sunny :) We had to wait to do our exercises this morning as a hiking group met in the car park and had to hang around waiting for some stragglers. One of the ladies came over for a chat and was very nice. Pleased to practice her English:) After breakfast we did some shopping before travelling along a really beautiful road following the river daubs. There were cliffs on either side and lovely scenery. We stopped at a McDonalds to do some bank stuff and see if there was any news of Rob and Hannah. There was:) They had a great time in St. Petersburg, visiting the ballet and an ice hockey match. Rob bought a puc as a souvenir before realising he would now have to carry it half way round the world!! They are now moving on to Moscow. We spent a couple of hours there in the end because Forces of Nature was messing about and wouldn’t let me log in:( Stopped for lunch beside the Lac de St. Point which looked wonderful with the sunshine and blue sky:) We travelled a little further and stopped at Mouthe which is a small ski resort and also where the river doubs sources – it was great to see it coming out of a cave especially as we have been following it for a couple of days:) We walked to it and did a circuit back to the van before driving up the hill to find somewhere to stop the night. We decided on a spot just off the road in the middle of what would be the piste in the winter. It overlooks the town, has lots of flowers including autumn gentians and you can hear cow bells. We have seen lots and lots of birds of prey today, all sorts:) We played Phase 10 again tonight and I thrashed Mag twice!! Saturday 15th September – travelling and afternoon walk **** sunny periods Did exercises and had breakfast in the middle of the piste overlooking the village. A bit cloudy but still lovely with birds of prey overhead calling to each other :) We left about 10.45 and drove to the village square in Mouthe to get bread and milk but thought we would try internet and got an hour free:) Went to facebook first and saw that Rob and Hannah had posted to say they were then leaving Moscow, not as nice as St. Petersburg and a lot scarier! They are moving on to an eco hostel in the mountains to have some chilling time because they have walked miles and are exhausted! Before they get there they need to spend about 27 hours on a train with lots of Russians and curled up because Rob’s legs are too long for the beds! Had a text from Jay Dan’s girlfriend to say that she GOT THE JOB :) Not only that but they loved her so much they gave her the whole job instead of the job share so she has 32 hours which she says is awesome:) Told her we were on facebook and she popped up for a chat and says the rats and holly are all ok and Holly is sleeping on their bed but getting up in the middle of the night to scream! While we were on Rob popped up! How cool is that, to be chatting to Rob in Moscow, us in France and also talking to Jay in Felixstowe – small world :) Unfortunately Forces of Nature was still playing up so I am a bit fed up about that – it won’t let me log in :( ! Anyway, back to the holiday – we set out to drive along the most beautiful road which runs virtually along the border between France and Switzerland. There are lots of little ski villages – anywhere there is a hill there is a lift and a piste. We saw a gorgeous red squirrel which had been knocked over and also a fox! How sad :( Crossed the border into the Jura and drove to St Claude which was surprisingly high-rise! :( We wanted to find the Cascade de la Queue de Cheval and drove up towards Chaumont and found it very easily. Nice car park where we had lunch and are staying the night :) We read our books then set out to hike to the top of the waterfall – it was quite a long way and very steep in places. We were nearly there and had just found the river leading to the waterfall when we virtually bumped into a cow with a bell having a drink in the middle! Too dark to take a photo :( When we got there wasn’t much water but there was a lot of height!!!! It was scarily high up and a sheer drop of the edge again which is always a worry where I am concerned! Mag crawled to the edge and looked down but not for long! We took some photos then started to walk back a slightly different way. We found a path leading down through lot of long grass and flowers and passing an old house right under some electricity lines which were buzzing really loudly! I went right into the house which was very derelict but you could see where the kitchen was with the shelves still there and nice tiles in the porch – sad really but I suppose they had to move because of the power lines. Carried on down to the waterfall and went to the pool at the bottom. You can’t even see the top from down there – only the first ledge about a third up. We sat there for a while then took the wrong turning walking back and ended up going quite a way down in the wrong direction! My calves are killing me and we were getting pretty tired by the time we found the right path (up past the old house again!). We had a cuppa and read then played another game of phase 10 – addicted now :) This one was very very close and it ended up a draw – wouldn’t have thought it was possible. We had a really tasty tin of chilli from Lidl and some 5 minute rice cooked in the kettle after brewing up for the cuppa:) |
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