Cloud, Cuckoo Land..

I’d had a good nights sleep, even though it was quite cold, being so high up, although I had been awoken by some rain during the night, but as I looked out shortly after 7 a.m., the sun was shining, almost, but it was dry, and patches of lighter coloured sky , I may be OK for a days climbing, and the cuckoo again started it’s calling from somewhere ..

As I was having breakfast, and getting ready another camper drove up, containing a young German couple, who I ended up climbing with most of the morning, speaking in our usual halting English, and smiling !

I was to climb the Via feratta du Baus de la Frema, http://www.colmiane.com/activites_detail.asp?page_numero=48 which does have some difficult sections in it ( I’d done it before), but I thought would again increase my confidence, as I went along.. the couple had gone on ahead of me, but as I climbed up to the start of the route, they were sat down looking down into the valley at the bridge we would have to cross as we climbed…it’s good fun I assured them ! Off we all set, climbing up and  through a hole in the rock, wending our way up and down the Aiguilles', until soon coming to the Himalayan bridge, slung between the two rock pinnacles, swopping leading with the German couple, and taking several pictures for them, as they climbed the rock in front of me , reminding me of my climbing days with Susan.. soon they were up into a cave area, approaching one of the harder sections, as the rain started coming down, and then we could all hear the rumble of thunder rolling up the valley…oh dear ! Not a place to be, when lightning may be flashing around, after all, I’ll be surrounded by metal attracting it – not that I’m not attractive enough ! We all decided that it wasn’t safe enough to continue (again !)  and we hurriedly went back down the mountain, with the accompaniment of the thunder, and heavier rain – good decision !

We all exchanged email addresses, and off we went… I drove across to Puget Theniers http://www.puget-theniers.fr/ , where although the weather hadn’t improved much, it did look as it may have prospects of brightening up – the tourist office lady, wasn’t very helpful, only saying ‘Rain today,tomorrow up till Tuesday’ ! However before I went to a campsite I was going to, I decided to have a look at the via feratta car park, all the time the weather was getting better, and the hot sunshine was drying everything quickly..

I then decided that i may be able to complete the route  the via ferrata   Demoisselles du  Castagnet   http://viaferratafr.free.fr/via-ferrata.php?via=79 

I was soon walking up a hot and humid track, through a dense wet forest, with hot sunshine bathing me, and even a grass snake had come out to bask in the sunshine, slithering away as I approached, and also another Cuckoo !..and soon at the foot of the limestone Auiguilles (rock pinnacle  towers ) – yes, I would be climbing these ! Off I went up the sheer towers, which fortunately most of the time, had a slight lean on them, so I could rest now and then, although in the hot sunshine, that wasn’t too comfortable, nor had I much water left !

Soon I was faced with two ‘Monkey Bridges’, 2 wires, slung between the pinnacles, which I had to cross, with one wire to hold, and one to stand on, as I inched my way across ! I kept remembering the route description from my book which said ‘It’s all in the mind’,just do it I thought and kept going… soon being faced with a Tyrolean Traverse, as my final’ish assault ! I was soon whizzing across between these two towers, and climbing down a strenuous overhanging tower, and…relief, I had made it, a second exciting route of the day, and good idea to have done it this afternoon, before the rain arrived…

I then made my way to a campsite just outside Entrevoux, which looks a nice place to explore for mass tomorrow, Camping du Brec ,http://www.camping-dubrec.com/  simple site , but welcoming owner who also spoke English ..

Goodnight….

Before I go, just to wish my handsome nephew and Godson Joseph, and his beautiful new fiancé’ Joanna  a great evening, sorry I couldn’t be with you at your engagement party tonight – although I did have a bottle of Champers to celebrate !, - a great acting partnership, where you can both appear in your very own Hollywood film one day (Like Jotown) and I look forward to the real Big Production next May..