So Good…Jotown Did it Twice !

I was up early on Monday morning, for my final breakfast at Lynne’s, and a leisurely start for the drive back to France, so with great thanks to Lynne and Elizabeth for giving up her TV, for me to watch the TdF ‘live’, and I set off from Chiavari in Italy, clean, well fed and watered..a really nice few days..

So I drove along the Autostrada, initially heading for Puget Theniers, then had a re-think (having checked the map) and so started to head for Tende, nearest to Monaco… the roads were relatively quiet , and the temperature as I drove along was a ‘pleasant’ 30/31C !

I came off the Autostrada, just before entering France, and then drove up into the mountains, eventually entering France in the mountains…somewhere !

I got to a very sunny and hot Tende, around 1 p.m., too hot for climbing (yet…) and so got some food, had a look around the museums, until later in the afternoon when it was getting a little cooler

I set off up the hills towards the start of the Via Feratta – I had done it last year, so had a rough idea where the paths were, and was soon at the start of the route, put all my gear on, and set off up onto the cliffs…there were some dark clouds, but I thought I’d be safe enough, hoping to finish it before any rain…however, not to be.. as I’d only just got over the first stretch, the clouds darkened, but worse…the thunder started rolling across the mountains !

One place you don’t want to be in a lightening storm… is on metal cables and rungs…. and so I decided to turn back, and go back down into the village, accompanied by the thunder crashing around the area, although it didn’t start raining…

I got some food at the local shop, and found myself a nice spot for the night, near to a main road, but a river next to me with the water crashing down, so drowning the traffic noise ..and I settled down for an entertaining evening watching the fireflies buzzing around, and the starry sky beckoning…although I was soon asleep for the night …

Awakening Tuesday morning after Breakfast I drove back into Tende, for another attempt at the via Ferratta..I was sat near to the start, enjoying the peace, as a guided group of about 10 arrived, and set off across the wire bridge and cliff opposite …I wasn’t going that way ! – I was going an easier way (although I was tempted !),I was glad I’d selected the easier option, as that was tricky enough, although not too testing, and I was soon in full flow over the cliffs, passing some churches/chapels built on the top of the Aiguillette’s, although I wasn’t doing much sightseeing, as I knew there was some tricky bits to come…and as I traversed around a cliff side, there it was, a Himalayan bridge, stretched between two of the rock towers, which  managed quite well, and then up and over some other bits, before arriving at the Tyrolean traverse, known to some as a ‘Zip wire’, a wire rope stretching into the distance, that I had to attach myself to,then…let go…and zip all the way across to the other side, lying back (and thinking of England !) ..I managed quite well, and happy with myself.. I decided to go back to the start…and do it all again !

Although on the second time, the rain arrived, so I had to move a bit quick, before I got a soaking !- seemed funny to see rain, after a period of over 4 weeks !,although it was warm rain .. I had a quick sandwich in Tende, then set off for my next destination La Colmiane, for another Via Ferratta, which I intend doing tomorrow… if the weathers OK

I drove across several mountain passes and Cols, going higher than 2,000mts (higher than Ben Nevis !), and the thunder and lightning started crashing all around me, and I drove in a heavy storm, briefly stopping a few times on the way, checking out differing sights,  got more shopping and arrived at the Via Ferratta car park (my home for the night) above La Colmiane at just before 6p.m.. Its 1680 mts high here, I thought it may help it to be cooler…it’s 24C, and raining !

Lets see what tomorrow brings, I’ve got some wine and cheese on the way over, so I’ll have peaceful night up here, although the weather forecast says…’Hail expected’

A frosty Bonne Nuit to all