Off We Go Again

You might guess it is windy around here

 We are due back at Chez Arran mid-December for a couple of weeks cat-sitting so thought we had better crack on. A week in the mountains above Lourdes was very pleasant though the climbing was limited for a variety of reasons. Then south through the Pyrenees to Morata de Jalon, a place we last visited an amazing 19 years ago. It is a great area with a lot of climbing but for almost two weeks the wind has blown, occasionally roaring and on one occasion ripping tiles of roofs and hurling a big wheelie bin into the side of our car - bugger. At least we have got a fair bit of climbing done - there are very few climbers around - which is always nice. 

The way home

We have decided to head to the Costa Blanca for a month, I have a book to finish and (as ever) it looks very nice down there. As an aside, we have been asked to do another possible cat-sitting in Kalymnos in January - house and car provided - that would be a nice mini-break.

Autumn is Here

Calames and mackerel sky

 We climbed with Colin around Briançon for a few days then he was away to Spain with a car load of stuff he was transporting. We stayed a little longer then headed down to Buis le Baronnies, where, once again it was too hot for comfort. There was some confusion about our leaving date, and on the Wednesday morning we had to pack the car in a rush and hit the road. We headed to Chez Arran a day early, luckily they had space for us.

In the event, John's contract to work in South Sudan was late, so we were only needed for two day's cat sitting - the two week's free accommodation was a bonus.

Through the autumnal parks

We got a bit of climbing done but my first ever bout of sciatica put a dampener on things - pretty unpleasant, though manageable through walking and stretching exercises.

Next we are heading west to check out the Haute Pyrenees, last time we were over that way, last February, everything was snow-bound!

The Heat is On/Off

The Maurienne - we like it around here

We had just over a week in the UK and than it was off again - Sheffield > Portsmouth > St Malo > Avallon. The only fly in the ointment was the emergence of a heat bubble just before we set off - the week we spent near Avallon was 33-35C everyday which way too hot to climb. Basically we hunkered down, made a real effort to keep the bedrooms cool and went for gentle local walks.

Our local crag - 120 routes, minutes from the parking

Then it was away to the mountains - five hours to the relative coolness of Aussois up at 4,800' and some climbing - at long last! Things cooled down nicely over the next week and Colin arrived (14.5 hours for an 8.5 hour journey!!) so even more climbing - currently on nine days out of the last eleven.

Then onwards again, over the Galibier Pass (8C and thick fog) to a pad near Briançon for a week - looks like a chance for a bit more rocking.

Currently booked in for two weeks cat-sitting at Chez Arran in ten days time - but just waiting for the final confirmation.

Ready for Off

Last stop in Norway - Thorbjørn's cabin at Riksgransen

Norway was great, the weather was kind, things were cheaper than we expected and we got all the photos we needed - the drone was a massive help with that job. I actually managed to crash it for the first time, clipping the tip of tree on the way into land. It was a spectacular tumble through the tree and down a rubble bank. Fortunately damage was pretty minimal - a split blade and a couple of scuffs - though my ego took more of a battering.

Then it was a three plane hop back to the UK to get ready for our upcoming trip to France and make use of our 180 day visa.

Back to the Peak - at least it isn't raining - for now

I actually went climbing with Colin after a break of 67 days which may never have happened in the past 50+ years. Of course it was hard work, but there is still a glow in the embers of enthusiasm - let's see what France brings

Back Up North

The view from the cabin - northern sunset and cruise liner

 After seven weeks in the UK we filnally got back on the road - taxi to Manchester, flight to Stockholm, swap planes - though it was actually the same one - then up to Kiruna in Arctic Sweden. The two days we were there it pretty much rained all the time - but at least we were away! Then it was up through the mountains, over the border and down into Norway - the weather improved all the way and we were soon established in Thorbjørn's superb cabin just west of Narvik. 

The magnificent Eidetind

A few days in and we have photoed several of the cliffs in the Narvik area - the current book has been out of print for about six years - and some of the peaks around Eidfjord - all for the next edition of the Lofoten guidebook which we hope to have out in time for next season.

Applying for a Six Month French Visa

A few folks have asked about the process in applying for a French 180 day visa. It is quite complicated so I have laid it out in detail below. It is worth remembering once your 180 days are up you still have the 90 days in the Schengen Zone to use. Basically all the paperwork in handled by a company called TLS Contact - presumably so that the French Consulate doesn't have to!

NOTE: The Manchester TLS Contact office moved from Salford Quays to central Manchester (1 Portland Street) in Nov 2023 - parking is a now little tricky, there is a multi-story about ten minutes walk along Portland Street.

Happy bunnies - good to go

French 180 day Visa Application

STRAND ONE (France Visas)

Each applicant needs to:

1 Register with the French Government Website - https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/en/

2 Decide what type of visa you need (Long Stay More than 90 days)

3 Get your supporting documents together (See  below)

Cost thus far €99 each

STRAND TWO (TLS Contact)

The lead traveller (ONLY) needs to

4 Register with TLS Contact and fill in the details for each traveller https://www.tlscontact.com/en/start-your-visa-journey/

5 Make an appointment with TLS Contact (London/Manchester/Edinburgh) - usually available in a few days

STRAND ONE

Return to the French Visa Website and confirm your TLS appointment. They will give you a checklist. You will need to present TLS with the following for each traveller

i) A travel document, issued less than 10 years ago, containing at least two blank pages, with a period of validity at least 3 months longer than the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen Area or, in the case of a long stay, at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa requested. You have to have copies of any pages containing visas, entry and exit stamps etc - on A4 sheets.

ii) Two recent ID photographs.

iii) Purpose of travel/stay - we just said Tourism

iv) Promise not to exercise any professional activity in France, if applicable accompanied by a letter explaining your project.

v) Proof of your socio-economic situation. We took our P60s which showed we were retired teachers

vi) Funds - Last 3 months bank statements (UK account/savers) showing your full name and address, as evidence that you have enough funds for the whole duration of the stay. If you are financially sponsored by your spouse/partner : marriage certificate and bank statements of your spouse/partner.

vii) Accommodation - proof of the first place you will staying

viii) Proof of residency of the host in France: rental agreement or property tirle or, if applicable, statement signed by the host confirming the establishment in France.

ix) Travel health insurance. For stays in France up to 6 months : UK-insured reciprocal healthcare entitlement documents (valid EHIC / GHIC). For stays over 6 months : Private Health insurance covering the entire validity of the visa (up to 1 year), except for retirees receiving a British retirement pension who may provide the S1 Form delivered by the NHS.

 

STRAND TWO

6 Visit TLS with your passports, passport photos and all the above supporting documentation, to get it checked. Hand it all over, pay and wait - around three weeks.

7 Have your biometrics done (iris scan and fingerprints) before you leave the office

NOTE 1 do not sign and date the forms until asked at the appointment

NOTE 2 there are photo booths inside the office - eight quid a pop!


Cost of this section £170 in total.

We used the Premium Lounge service at £50 each - judging by the queues in the main office, it was money well spent, though at the Manchester office this is no longer available.

Wait for three to four weeks (10-15 working days) for the 'collect your passport e-mail' and keep your fingers crossed.

** GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR APPLICATION **

Ticking Over

Derwent Water - busy

 We got back from a hot Kalymnos to find it was just about the same temperature - and a lot more humid - in the UK, not nice. After just a few days we booked a couple of weeks in Penruddock on the northern edge of the Lake District and that was very pleasant once things cooled down a bit. Colin came over and we had a few good days climbing, clipping bolts in a couple of quarries - how times change. Everywhere was pretty busy but I guess that is the UK in summer, even though the schools aren't out yet.

Colin on a tough 6a at Bram Crag Quarry

Then back to Sheffield to work on our  French 180 days visas - currently we are failing badly. On a much more positive note we have booked remarkably 'cheap' flights and car-hire for Northern Norway for early August to work on Lofoten Rock III - that feels a bit better.