The Hills are Alive..with the Zip of Jotown

I’d travelled through Nice and Cannes (where the film festival was opening that evening – I decided not to attend!), away from the coast, up over several mountain passes, before arrive in a mountain village called Tende http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tende , a quite prosperous village from the look of it (well, the climbing shop certainly mad money out of me!), and a museum containing the ‘Merveilles’ museum http://www.cg06.fr/cms/annexes/merveilles/w_musee_merveilles/w_merveilles_uk/html/start.html , and stayed on the Municipal campsite there , with great views up into the mountains, and a river gushing by , and with the good weather I was ready for some climbing… I’d rented a special pulley, http://www.karstsports.com/petp21tancab.html  so I could do the Tyrolean traverses, which are on several of them – I’d decided to rent, and if I enjoyed the experience, I’d buy one – what do you think I ended up doing ?

So, I set off from the village climbing up into the Rochers de Saint-Saveur,which I would be having, doing the Via ferrata des Comtes Lascaris http://viaferratafr.free.fr/via-ferrata.php?via=41 , named after the medieval Lords of the Region, the views down into the village and valley, in the early morning sunshine were spectacular, the village being quiet for Ascension Day, a holiday, with not much evidence of people flocking to Church !

As I got to the cemetery , the faint track went up into the fields, and subsequently ( I thought) the hillside above, and there then followed a bit of ‘bushwhacking’ through gorse, and tress on a steep hillside, before I eventually ended up at the correct start point, surprising 3 people who had come up the correct path ! Fortunately they seemed to be a couple and a guide, who would be able to lead the way for me, as their were two options ,and I would be taking the easier,although still difficult one – the ‘new’ me ?Then I was off, climbing up the route above, onto the fairly steep rocks, just keeping the other climbers in the distance, giving me some confidence – I’d not done any climbing since last years fall, and I was slightly  ‘hesitant’ (as you may guess!). I was soon climbing quite well, up,around,and over the rocks,  and then being faced with a Himalayan bridge to cross, which with a little stop, breath…and movement I was soon over, climbing up into ruined chapels, and buildings on the top of the rocks ! and then, my first sighting, of a Tyrolean Traverse, which I was going to have to overcome – fortunately the guide was still there, instructing the couple, and I was able to confirm my thoughts as to how to do it !, and then it was my turn to ‘have a go’, connected up the pulley, and all my other safety devices (not many), let go and Whoooosh…I zipped down the cable at a fast acceleration, zooming down the wire with the sound of the pulley wheels spinning round, and soon I was down…relieved, but happy !

So, down into the village I then went, finding the correct path on my way down , straight to the climbing shop, and purchased the pulley, and some other essentials which the guide said would be better for me, to protect my equipment, lunch at the campsite, short breather,then back up to do it all again ! I’d decided that as I now knew where to go, I should try it again, to build up my confidence and strength !

I soon climbed out of the village, found the correct path (the sign helped !) , got all my gear on, and set off up and around the rocks again, still deciding to take the safer option, rather than a big overhanging route !  and once again moving quite well around the rocks, and over the tops, quickly marching over the long Himalayan bridge again, by now it was windy, so it was swinging around quite a lot, and soon I was confronted by the Tyrolean traverse wires, and with no one to check, I sorted it all out myself, and off I shot….Whoooooosh, really fast the new pulley was really zipping along, and I wondered how I was going to stop, without crashing into the wall opposite… I did manage it, although something to be worked on, I had to use my legs as shock absorbers !

Another successful climb done,and all that now remained was to have a wander down into the village, look around the churches and local sights, and back to camp for a good nights sleep – ready for the next days climbs !

Bonne Nuit !  

Moving Up into the Hills..

Even though it was a nice sunny morning, I’d decided I couldn’t just laze in the sun forever, and having booked my return journey, thought I’d better do something exciting, so I’ve gone to Tende http://www.altitude06.com/GB_via-ferrata-de-tende.html to try my hand,and legs at another Via Ferrata.. I intend doing a few, as I make my way back up North…

before I go, I just wanted to wish a Bonne  Joyeux Anniversaire to my Grandson Tristan, 6 years old today… have a great day, and enjoy the cupcakes Mum’s made for you all at school (38 of them!)

Lazing in the Sunshine…

Once again I was up early, although not too early.. and was ready for another early morning ride…so after a quick breakfast, I was off, in the early morning sunshine.. going towards, who knows where ?

I had seen some signs, indicating a bike route around Les roches de Roquebrune, which I presumed was up the coast, towards Nice, so off I went… up through Les Isaambes – where I’ve stayed before – and Frejus, and eventually into St Aygulf…where I’d lost all the signs for the bike route..and had been going an hour or so, and so turned round..and rode back, stopping on the way for some photos of hills across the bay in the distance, probably Monaco area, the sun was getting hotter anyway, so ready for a laze in the sun..but not before, that important task…the washing ! I think I did enough don’t you ? … then it was a lazy lunch, snooze, and then swimming in the sea, and snorkelling in the calm, almost warm waters, before relaxing again in the early evening sunshine , and having a final BBQ here, before moving on tomorrow…where to ? – who knows, probably in the hills somewhere, I fancy a little climbing…so may not be easily in touch for a while….Bonne Nuit !

Everything Goes with a Bang !

I was up very early this morning, as I had decided to ride the Plan de la Tour…a large hilly area, back from the coast, and one which i had travelled whilst coming to the area, and seen lots of pedal cyclist doing it http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/port-grimaud/16511517 , and with it getting hot in the middle of the day, I wanted to have the hardest parts finished by then !

As I set off at 8 a.m., a cannon was fired from the port, celebrating the start of the Festivities honouring Ste Maxime (more later), or was it for me ?

I was surprised how easy it went, at first climbing was quite difficult, as most of my biking, whilst away has been on light gradients, and using my other bike, so the difference in using my road bike, was quite big. Eventually though I settled into it, and cresting the first hill, and downward slope, I was soon into my rhythm, and up the next rise, and down again, by just after 9 a.m. I was entering the village of Plan de la Tour, busiest I’d ever seen a French village – i think the schoolchildren were going away, as they were all trundling cases behind them..

I had a brief rest, and drink, then off up and down more hills again,not quite sure I was going in the right direction, some may say that’s not unusual ! Eventually I cam across some road signs for Ste Maxime, and dropped onto a main road, and had a great exhilarating ride down a steep hill, on the good road, back to Ste Maxime, and ultimately the campsite…for a well deserved rest, and lunch..

It had clouded over by the time I returned, and so I just read for a few hours, dodging a few spots of rain..

Then in the early evening it was a ride back into Ste Maxime, for the festival , in the square outside the church ,with everything decked in Blue and White –similar to that small Parade in Manchester, although not as exciting as this one !http://www.eutraco.com/maxime/anglais/histoir.htm 

There were lots of people there, the Priests, Mayor,dignitaries, A company of Bravedours,with their muskets –fired on several,loud occasions… pipe and drum band, and women and children in costume of the area.. a great spectacle of bangs,crashes,orders and salutes.. before they all went into church for mass..and I came home for  tea !

 

Sunshine and Snorkelling

I was up bright and early, for the ride into Ste Maxime, for church – although I arrived shortly before 9 a.m., only to discover it started at 9-30 a.m. Ooops !, still the views whilst I was waiting were beautiful, and already the roar of the exiting Motor Bikers filled the roads ..

I was in church, again having been early I was able to partake in the choir practice, although didn’t know many of the words…although I did know the final Hymn (in French), the Priest who celebrated mass, was fairly young, and spoke with great enthusiasm, and movements of his arms and body, I just wish I could have followed a little bit more.. then afterwards I wandered along the sunny sea front, watching the racing yachts out in the bay, and taking in the lovely sunshine , before heading back, for a brunch of …fried egg butties , with HP sauce on !

Then I was off to the beach again, for some swimming, and snorkelling, although the sea bed didn’t have much to explore..and then back to camp, to try to listen/monitor the football matches going on at home -what can I say, Manchester City finally crept in to win the Premiership, for the first time in 44 years, preventing Manchester United, who finished on the same points total, their 20th league Title -there’s always next year (again) ! Well done City, at least it will have helped  Fr John !

and...finally a Happy Wedding Anniversary to Gerard and Sarah

Roaring into the Bay of…St Tropez

I set off for a visit into St Tropez, shortly before 10 a.m. stood at the bus stop, just as the bus arrived, and a bargain $2 fare into St Tropez..and as we wended our way along the roads, there were thousands of motor cyclists, travelling in all directions, especially at the Festival site area of Grimaud

As I arrived in St Tropez http://www.ot-saint-tropez.com/ the town was absolutely inundated with bikers from all over Europe, and beyond – I saw a couple of British bikers, not many, with all the other European countries well represented..

Firstly I was up, near the port, as a festival of ‘small boats’ Regatta was starting, and in the far distance,across the bay I could see several large schooners also sailing across the bay

Everywhere in the town there were expensive Harley Davidson motor bikes parked, whilst their owners, accompanied by the wives – shopping !, were all around, on  a real festival occasion, the bikes being decorated with all sorts..and then, of course there was the obligatory ‘photo shoot’, of a couple of delectable models – the bikes weren’t bad either !

It was a really hot day, and although there was due to be a parade through the town at        4-30 p.m. I decided I couldn’t survive in the heat and sun until then, so caught the bus back, for lunch

Later I went down to Grimaud on my bike, at the festival site, watching the thousands of bikers returning to the area, or, just parading around – with the throbbing of their loud engines all around

I then returned for a wonderful BBQ of some Kebabs I had bought at the supermarket – delicious ,although expensive !, and watched the sun go down from on the beach..

So, Bonne Nuit from me…and a Bon Anniversaire ! to my biggest sis Letitia  - now that she’s over 60, she doesn’t want her age mentioning, so I won’t !!

A Quiet Weekend ?!

I was awake early in the Camargue, and it was already hot..I should really have stayed longer, but, as I had no fresh food with me, and the nearest big shops were some distance away, I had decided to move on..I can always return, to a great location and campsite

As I travelled through the flat lands of the Camargue delta, I could see that there were lots of flooded paddy fields, ready for new crops of rice – no doubt a great sight, when in growth. The animals were also moving in the early morning as I travelled along

I was soon on a motorway, travelling though the French country, and eventually alongside the gigantic port of Marseille, with the bay having great container ships and tankers, all sat there, presumably awaiting discharge/loading, I travelled alongside for quite some time, before going up over the hills and into the Cote d’Azur,or French ‘Riviera’   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Riviera , where I had decided to stay for a few days.

I headed for my destination Les Cigalons, http://www.campingcigalon.com/  on the outskirts of Ste Maxime http://www.sainte-maxime.com/ 

I had just got there before they closed for ‘lunch’, and having selected my pitch, I set out to find a large Carrefour supermarket, at Le Muy, where I could get fresh supplies, and BBQ materials, including a new Gaz container …wonderful – the weather was hot,dry and very sunny…

So, returning to the campsite, settling in after a lunch ,I thought it was time to have a meander around, to see what was available –immediately outside the campsite was a beach, with the water slapping up on the gravelly shore. As I was crossing the road, I saw large groups of motor cyclists – I had arrived at the same time as the Harley Davidson ‘Euro Festival’ http://www.harley-davidson.com/fr_FR/Content/Pages/Events/Euro_Festival.html … that was close, I was going to stop at what turned out to be immediately next to the festival site – more later…

I then returned to the camp, and decided that as I hadn’t actually ridden my Road Bike,since being on this trip, I should take it out for a ‘spin’ ..which having got changed I did…up the road, towards and past Frejus http://www.frejus.fr/, along the coast road, accompanied by lots of ‘bikers’ thundering along on their great machines , I then turned around, back along the road, and this time into Ste Maxime , and eventually returning to the campsite, and a refreshing BBQ in the evening sun, shower  and watching the stars from the beach rocks..Not forgetting Joyeux anniversaire ! to Dot ( the beloved M-i-Law !), I did try to sing ‘Happy Birthday 'to her, but she was out eating and drinking…that’s where her daughter got it from ! Love and Best Wishes from Jotown ..