Chamonix

Wednesday 10^th July Chamonix

We were up at 6.30am and away by 7am so that we did not have to pay any parking fees. Today we were heading for Chamonix.  Avoiding the motorways we took  the road along the lake. Our early start had meant we had not had breakfast so we stopped for this in the pretty village of Zweisimmen before continuing to Saanen and Gstaad. Gstaad obviously had something big going on today, with people patrolling the streets. We had only come in for a brief look so we did that and then turned around heading for chataeu- D’Oex befeore heading heading up the Colle des Mosses mountain pass. Again the scenery wsa beautiful and we stopped to watch two eagles soaring on the thermals. We came out of the pass via Leysin and Aigle (with its beautiful chateau). We continued to Martigny (twice as Mike took the wrong road) and then took the mountain road to Chamonix. We had our lunch high over the Rhone Valley; here the road sellers were selling local apricots. I must make a list of all the fruit we have been able to buy. Along most of the route we had seen snow capped monutains but it was not until we were near Chamonix that we could see mont Blanc and the neighbouring peaks plus the many glaciers that are visible here.



We parked Buster in a car park that was free for the first hour but we were a minute late returning! During this hour we had a quick walk through town to the Tourist information office for our usual fill of maps and local info. We reparked the van and discussed our plans for the next few days. By now we were once again in the  midst of a heavy thunderstorm but once it had abated we ventured out with our brollies for a slower tour of the town. 

Whilst on this walk Jacqui remembered that Sarah Stirling now lived in Chamonix. We contacted her and made arrangements to meet up later that evening in her home in Le Lavancher which is situated about 10 mins from Chamonix. We had a quick pasta supper and then headed up to Sarah and Damien’s little cottage for 9.15pm. There was a good parking spot for Buster so we stayed the night. We had a lovely evening and did not end up leaving till after midnight with the offer of supper made for tomorrow.

Thursday 11^th July. Chamonix.

It was a beautiful morning. All the peaks were perfectly clear – good for walking. We drove Buster to Le Tour about 10k away and took the very steep route up the mountain. The first part was through beautiful flower meadows, pink, yellow, blue white and purple colours surrounding us. Unfortunately they were all being mowed down for hay – for the cows.

We walked for a couple of hours and then cooled our feet in a fast flowing glacier fed stream whilst we ate our lunch. We lazed in the sun for the rest of the afternoon. We had been invited back for supper by Sarah and Damion so we called into the local supermarket for some beer, wine and van provisions before heading back to La Lavancher.

That evening we had a lovely supper: mixed hot salads and couscous followed by strawberries with greek yoghurt and greek honey but more importantly it was great to talk to two young people about their lives in Chamonix.