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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3071 |
12th September 2012 Hiking - Walking: Ballon d’Alsace, France Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods and windy Max Speed: Distance Covered: TRIP TO FRANCE – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 Monday 10 September – travelling – sunny periods and windy We packed up and left home about 10.30, popped to Solar:) to look at the papers and say another goodbye to Dan. We got to the shuttle at exactly the right time but there were delays at the check in so we just missed our actual shuttle by about one car! Went on the next one and got to Calais about 3pm French time. We didn’t bother with the little roads this time, just headed up to Dunkirk and over the Lille. When we were thinking about stopping for the night and into Belgium we saw a huge photo at the side of the road showing a lift for barges on a canal. We thought we would go and have a look and it proved to be a great decision because we stayed the night too :) It was the most amazing piece of equipment. Massive building with a lift which takes a whole section of canal plus barges up 73 metres!!! We got there at 7 and the last boat had just gone through as it shut at 7 so we had a walk round and went up the banks to the canal 73 metres up! It is the weirdest thing from the top. The canal flows along as normal then just stops in mid air! We had parked in the car park and there was another camper with an old couple too so that always makes you feel good about stopping. Unfortunately there were some Gary boys and girls who were belting out their base but they didn’t do that for long and just talked the rest of the time. Had egg, spam and beans for tea :) The van is groaning under the weight of food in the cupboards. We read the papers we had bought in Solar and didn’t go to bed very late as travelling is always exhausting! Tuesday 11 Sept. – travelling and a little walk in the foret – cloudy with rain :( Woke up at 6 when we heard a barge going towards the lift but it was a bit dark to see very much. Went back to sleep until 8.15! Even did our exercises on the car park :) It started to rain :( We walked down to the lift exhibition, didn’t want to go in but wanted to get a leaflet and use the loo! We watched a couple of barges go up and it is fascinating but very very slow! It doesn’t even drip water! Drove a bit further along to look at an old fashioned version. The new one was on a specially cut new piece of canal to carry heavier boats and take them up in one go. There are 4 through the original bit of canal. Set out to travel through Belgium and Luxemburg. Didnt think we would make the cheap diesel in Luxemburg so stopped in Belgium and put 20 euros worth in. It is only just over a pound a litre in Luxemburg and we filled up there. Back into France and stopped at a grotty layby which was more like a massive toilet! for a coffee and saw lots of rats (sounds awful but they were really sweet :)) running up and down the bank. I took lots of photos and gave them a biscuit! We drove down to a place called Remiremont, through the town and out the other side and amazingly found a beautiful forest. We parked near a dried up etang (pond) and went for a walk in the most beautiful trees with springy moss to walk on. It is still raining unfortunately :( but hopefully it will lift by tomorrow. Back to the van for mince and potatoes out of a tin for tea. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3972768310279.2154244.1012660562&t ype=1&l=f605c0a128 Wednesday 12th September - travelling and a little walk *** cloudy and cool with some rain :( We woke up in the forest and as it wasn’t raining were both able to do our exercises. After breakfast drove down to Remiremont and had a wander round the centre. There are loads of beautiful flowers and the whole place is really clean. Popped into the tourist information and the shop for a few bits then set off in the direction of Mulhouse. Stopped at Ballon d’Alsace which is a Col at about 1,200 metres. It was nice with a few ski hire places and restaurants as there is a cross country ski centre. We parked in the ski centre car park and used the very nice loo! There was a sculpture of a naked man upside down which we didn’t quite understand but it was a memorial to the war. After lunch we went on a really good circular walk which took about 45 minutes. A very steep climb up past ponies to a monument to Joan of Ark. The walk then took you right onto the edge of a precipice which looked down onto the village of St. Maurice. The sky was going decidedly black and although we didn’t hurry we were glad to get back to the van before it rained. We were just driving down the very bendy road when it started to pour and there were hail stones too! Drove through mixed scenery of hills and flat land and crossed the river moselle lots of times. We stopped in Pont-de-Roide near the river for our cuppa. Drove on finally stopping at Belvedere de la Roche de Pretre. As we were approaching the car park we saw 7 Chamoix in the field which we assume were wild as they kept disappearing in and out of the woods behind the field. We went to have a look at the ‘Belvedere’ and it is pretty amazing – a viewing point for the cirque de Consolation. A very long drop off cliffs to the river, (and 43m cascade which you can hear very clearly) which is partially hidden by trees. There is a monastery down there somewhere too. We are staying here tonight and hopefully, weather permitting, will be walking down to explore more tomorrow morning :) Had chicken and pasta for tea. It is very chilly – we have had to get the long trousers, boots and fleeces out. |
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