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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3055
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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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