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| Owner:
squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3688 |
26th January 2013 Skiing: Porte Du Balancier-Rousses Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny Max Speed: Distance Covered: Thursday 24 January - travelling We got up at 6 and Mag even had time to do her exercises and it was quite a leisurely start. Holly our cat was very sleepy so we didn’t wake her up when we left. We got to Dover at the perfect time for our ferry and boarded fine. We left England at 12.15 and the crossing wasn’t too bad. Mag wore her wrist bands and we took two tablets. Mag didn’t start to feel groggy until we were already nearing Calais. It was a really sunny day and the seagulls were following the ship:) We stood outside and watched the white cliffs disappear and came out again to watch Calais appear. We drove up to Belgium and the trip was fine apart from when the bloody sat nav got us lost in Lille when we should never have actually be in Lille in the first place as you stay on the motorway. We stopped to have our lunch and thought that the gas had run out but it was because I had pushed the cable into the cupboard and trapped the pipe. It seemed too early for that to run out as the last one lasted 64 days and there is still some in there and this one has only done 45. We found the place where we stayed by the canal at Strepy but got a bit lost before we found the exact place near the big boat lift where we parked before. We had soap and sandwiches for tea and played a couple of games of cards, one phase 10. We spent a fun 10 minutes trying to get the mirror out from the gap between the bed and cupboard but with the help of some sticky duck tape and the mossi bat we did it!! We were exhausted so went to bed with two thick quilts and a fleece over our pillows. It was +16 in the van and -1.4 outside when we went to sleep! Friday 25 - travelling We slept amazingly well considering the temperature – it went down to -4.5 And there was ice on the inside of the windows, between the window and the curtain. As soon as they were open the ice melted so they definitely work! We both slept fully dressed with all the quilts etc.. but it wasn’t too bad. Got up about 8 and had pastries for breakfast. We saw a barge go up in the lift and looked at the frozen canal with the seagulls standing on the ice. We left there and on the drive out found an off shoot of the canal with a very pretty lifting bridge and there were grey lag geese skating on the ice – very funny! We drove out of there with no hassles, no getting lost this time BUT then on another straightforward piece where we should have just stayed on the motorway we were suddenly in the middle of Charleroi and lost again – bloody sat nav. The scenery on the way down was really pretty, there has been snow all the way through England, France, Belgium and Luxemburg. We filled up with extremely cheap diesel in Luxemburg (£1.07 a litre) then down through France stopping for our lunch in a lovely lay by where we saw a buzzard really close. There has been buzzards all the way down – they are like sparrows! The snow disappeared for a bit in the Jura but then the sat nav took us off the motorway again! On the way to Geneva and we were on smaller roads heading through very snowy and high hills/mountains. It was getting dark and we were going past a small ski resort and saw a couple of campers parked at a place called Les Rousses. It was the car park for the Le Balancier lift. We decided to stop because Mag was feeling decidedly grotty – bad head, painful and throbbing eye and a bit sick. It was another 2 hours or so to Samoens so it made sense to stop here and we quite fancy skiing here tomorrow anyway:) Had chilli and Tortilla chips for tea. Even colder tonight Saturday 26 - ski Mag felt lousy all night with blocked up nose etc., blooming altitude. We were warm under the quilts and it was -9 outside. We did have the diesel heater on while we were asleep but it got too hot and the air is so dry with the blower so we turned it off. We had porridge for breakfast made in the pan and it went ok but then the gas ran out again – we are sure there is some left in it – perhaps its frozen! Went and got organised for Skiing and bought the lift passes and up on the chair lift near the van. Lovely resort – all trees and a bit weird because no peaks beyond – just the top of the hill. Couldnt believe it – straight off the lift on the first day and Mag feeling like crap and we go off onto a black run after about 5 minutes. She is really pleased with her skiing though:) The green run down the side of the resort was particularly gorgeous. Back to the van for lunch and Mag really did feel awful so I made her a butter, cheese and ham sandwich with tortilla chips left over from last night and 2 coffees and then she had a doze while I went off to see the score for going over onto the Swiss runs. Mag dozed for about ½ then went to meet me. I was late because it took such a long time to get back! - lots of uphill skiing :( Anyway off we went and it was lovely over there. Mag was starting to feel so much better and by the time we got to the top she felt absolutely fine:) The view from the top up near the golf ball (some sort of meteorological station??) was absolutely amazing. All the peaks stretching out right in front of you including Mont Blanc. Beautiful. We are so grateful to the sat nav for sending us the wrong way!!! We will probably come back at some point. We left about 5 and drove towards Geneva which took ages then as it was getting dark we were beginning to approach Samoens. Maggie Coles rang to say they had had a rough start as the shuttle they were on was delayed for an hour and a half so they were running late. We stopped at the Casino and bought 30 euros worth of food and then got to the apartment shortly after them. It is a very nice place and we have got the double room with ensuite:) They are all upstairs and we are on the same floor as the lounge and kitchen. We had left over rolls from their journey and some chips for tea. Chatted and sorted out the wifi on the computer. Had a text from Dan to say all fine at home and Holly just sleeps through his visits. Photo Gallery here |
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