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!

 

Cruising up the Coast

Some easy climbing close to the house

 

We bailed from the Ariege and drove north and east, with a windy stop at Saint Victoire to a very nice pad on the outskirts of Toulon. The eight days there were very pleasant, with climbing and hiking, plus some book work - pretty much our standard life style these days. Then it was on to Saint Rafael, when we first retired, we spent a couple of winters around here, escaping the UK and working on the Cote d'Azur guidebook. I was surprised how little I could remember about area, turns out it was nearly 18 years ago! The pad is very smart and there is a newish guidebook out, hopefully that will keep us busy for a couple of weeks.

 Edit - it turned out access to the Dramont was closed, the local crags were busy, the traffic was horrendous and the background throb of the city kept us awake at night. After a week we binned it and headed to Buis les Barronais, to meet Colin and soak in some peace and quiet...........and rest.

On the Road Again

Climbing at Auzat - always a pleasure

After two months in Cyprus we nipped back to Kalymnos for a couple of weeks. It is always good to be there though the weather didn't really play ball, we had a spell of nine days when the north wind roared and daytime temperature sometimes only reached 7C which was a bit of a shock.

Then it was back to Chez Arran via a night in Stansted for a week's cat sitting while Jon and Jacci were in the UK. Spring has come slowly to the Ariege though the longer days and a bit of gentle climbing have been a delight. I'm pleased to report that the car started first press of the button and Andorra still does cheap booze and petrol.

In a couple of days we are heading to the Gard - an area we have never visited - interestingly I can't remember the last time we went somewhere completely new - it may have been years ago!

 

Cyprus - Just About Done Again

Middle of winter - but not too shoddy

 Seven weeks on Cyprus and just one more to go. As ever it has been easy living considering we are here in the depths of the northern winter - the weather has generally been superb though there has been the odd damp spell, but it always pleasantly warm and we have managed to get out for a walk/climb every single day.
Accommodation s high quality and remarkably cheap - a two bedroom apartment with big terrace, bath and fast Wi-Fi for the cost of camping in the UK - why wouldn't you spend a bit of time here! 

Of course the real reason we go to Cyprus is because it isn't in Schengen so any time spent there doesn't count towards our pitiful 90 in 180 day limit in the rest of the Schengen zone - Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Iceland, Italy etc.

Back to Cyprus

Winter sunset from our pad in Chloraka

 Despite having a six month French Visa which runs up to next April we still short of Schengen time because of spending weeks climbing in France back in August and September. The simplest solution is to get out of the zone for a month or two - spending the depths of winter in Cyprus is a pretty easy option as the place is quite civilised and has decent winter weather. Having said that, this winter has been one of the wetter ones and the kitchen in pad we are stopping in floods every time there is heavy rains, so not quite perfect, though way better than being back in the UK.

Prom walks are our main activity

A bit of climbing and lots of prom and mountain walks fill the time nicely and daytime temperatures of 16-20C are pretty pleasant. In a month or so we will back to Kalymnos for a while, then onwards to the Ariege to collect the car - but that is way in the future at the moment.

Same as it Ever Was - Well Almost

The Middle

The Start

 A month on Kalymnos - November - has been great, it was hot and busy at the start and has turned cool, shower and pretty much shut down at the end of the month - probably the most unsettled period we have ever known in sixteen year's of visits. It has been the usual sketch of climbing, hiking and enjoying the island vibe. Schengen time is closing fast, so the choices were back to France - our six month Visa still has four months to run - or we can exit the block for a while . So we are headed back to Cyprus for a month - or maybe two.  Every week we are there can be added on after April 1st where it will be very much appreciated - spring in the Alps sounds like a possible plan.

The End

Kalymnos Reigns

Private plane courtesy of Jet2 - much appreciated

We first visited Kalymnos in the autumn of 2008, as was usual back then, we arrived at the start of October and suffered for our art with really crowded crags and unpleasantry hot conditions for much of our trip, climbing beyond about 13:00 was a no no. By the time we were due to leave, at the beginning of November, we knew for sure this was the time to be here, the crags were much quieter and the temperatures were perfect, climbing the sun was a pleasure not a chore. Since then we have visited in November (and March) almost every year since and never regretted a day of it.

Karlomanos (5a) - nice

The journey here from the Ariege was the usual sketch of waiting around, queues, delays, nights in strange beds, plus the the inevitable expenses associated with travelling - was it worth it? Hell yeah! 

So here we are in the November sunshine - Day One - four easy routes in perfect conditions on Sea Breeze, that will do nicely for starters. The place was quite busy but we know from previous experience most of them will be pushing off soon enough - hopefully we are in for the longer run.