Summer's a Coming

Culles-les-Roches - urgh

After a couple of very pleasant weeks in Argentiere we popped over (through?) the mountains via the Frejus Tunnel (£44 one way!!) back to the Maurienne, one of our favourite spots as it is always so quiet and there is plenty of easy climbing to go at. We had 10 days there, and for much of the time I think we were the only residents at Plein Soleil. 

The Canal du Centre - lovely walking

Then we headed up country for the final ten days, stopping at Essertenne, about 50 miles south of Dijon. The AirBnB was another cracker, quiet, comfortable and with just enough cat action to see us through. The climbing was less successful, in particular on the two visits to Culles-des-Roches the place was packed with kids marauding around - we got some climbing done but it was far from ideal. We also did a few lovely walks by the canal/lakes - flat and deserted.

And that was that - a two day haul to Rotterdam, and overnight crossing to Hull, breakfast at Morrisons, then nine and.half months later, back home.

Up into the Mountians

A cool 6C on the Lauteret

 

Posh top floor pad

 

We had a very pleasant couple of weeks in Buis le Baronnies, though the weather wasn't the best - we climbed four days and did quite a bit of hiking too. Then we packed Colin of northwards with a box of pasta (and a lot of rank meat he had brought from Spain) and we headed to Argentiere le Bessèe, bizarrely we ended up on the same blocked road that caught us out back in September coming the other way and had to do an hour's detour over a very wiggly pass - slow learners!

Our new pad was an extensive top floor apartment that sleeps eleven, as we were just two we got it for way less than half price. The weather at Argentiere was much pleasanter, almost a bit warm at times - though we coped, the usual mix of climbing, hiking and chilling - lovely stuff.

The pad has no cats, but four dogs, three rabbits, two goats and a load of chickens (free eggs) - so pretty poor substituents for puddy action, but they will have to do - and by the way, the goats stink!