Megeve, France

Second day no KT today but four of us headed out ... slightly earlier and with the weather much the same as yesterday we set off to explore a little further on the Portes du Mont Blanc ski area.
starting off in exactly the same way and following much the route from yesterday we made our way over to the top of the Pres lift.
From here we dropped down the red motorway (all these runs were in the same conditions of hard packed snow with some accumulations of powder later in the day, and equally the more icy patches to compensate.
Back up the Jouty lift and down to the right on much the same to ride the Pertuis lift back up ...  then having spotted some steeper elements slightly further right repeated the lift. Any further descent from  here to the valley was quickly dismissed when we saw the extent (or lack of) the snow coverage on the tracks.
Lunch at the picnic spot on the top here, but the sun hid behind a tree and the wind came across, so rather rushed.
To complete the discovery of the area we took the direct route down to Ravine and back up. I had missed the cut across to the top of Jaillet and we followed a similar way back as yesterday.

Down at Le plan (the bottom station) there was still time on the tickets to have a final go at the direct descent ... this time top to bottom on the direct route starting to the left.
Back at the van warming up and avoiding the river underneath. then set off back for tea.

La Giettaz, France

Leisurely start to the day, as we all needed to find everything and sort out bags ... then heading off to the local lift for an explore and learn about the snow conditions. Sue stayed in the apartment as she had a inkling that the conditions would not suit her.
The valley was in shadow and a little chilly when we arrived, and parked up. the ticket queue was not too onerous and I also had some passes that would work here so that helped as well.
Then up the lift ...  the first section was relatively short, and I managed to fall over on the the chair exit, much to everyone's amusement.
Then up to the top (Le Torraz) and out into the sun shine, however there was a vicious wind blowing (which i should blame for the second failure of the day to exit a chair lift, again to much laughter from the others).

The view over towards Mont Blanc and round to the south was spectacular, even if the main attraction had its head in the clouds.
From this high point it is either a long traverse into the Megeve area or else a drop back into the valley. Heading into the wind and with a tricky start we headed east along the ridge line. A shallow bungey lift and a slightly steeper one we the top of Le Christomet - the top of the Megeve side of things.
From here we dropped down the red (hard packed, wide motorway) and black (hard packed, steeper, but still a motorway) to the base. As lunch was beckoning, we ran up the Pres lift and back down again before heading back to Le Christomet to see if there was somewhere to eat.

Everything was packed out so taking the long blue back to the start point ...  exceedingly cold and in the shade all the way back (memories of the long return at areche). there was little in track side entertainment as well so a long push to the bottom.

Down in the valley the sun had reached the village so we stopped at the first "quick" snack bar, but after 15 mns of getting nowhere we found another restaurant, where the service was slow, but the chips (all 5 portions on one platter) were superb.and well worth the wait.

After lunch it was time to go back up and try out the "direct" descents .. black, steepish an hard packed - first to the left of the lift and then to the right finishing on the red back to the middle station. Finally back down the track to the bottom and the van.
A good start to the week, the snow was better than some years in terms of coverage, but it was very compact and the chilly weather had hardened it even more. The off-piste was like riding a bike on cobbles and lots of sustruggi? effects from the wind, so it was best to make the most of the prepared runs.

2018 Ski Trip, La Giettaz

Another year, and time for a family trip ..  the only time everyone could make was the week of New Year .. and linking up with Chris and M-J.  Unfortunately Dominique could not make this yar, and Bryon had other things to do that week.
we had booked a leisurely trip out leaving home around 9am and catching a 12 o'clock ferry. Everything was on  time and smooth.

We planed to stay at the F1 in Dole and had 2 rooms booked. apart from trying to find the reservation code on arrival all was uneventful. We even stopped a t a courtpaille at a service station on the A5 for steak and chips.

Saturday morning after filling the flasks and porridge pots we headed off cross country to Geneva...  shorter and more direct but definitely longer in time.

After Geneva it was back on the Autoroutes for a bit and with the pass open the shortest way was via La Clusaz. A short visit to Grand Bornand showed it was completely packed out and we quickly retreated to continue.
la Clusaz was equally rammed, and we kept going over the pass to La Giettaz, spotting the chalet on the way past, but being just after lunch we continued to the ski terminus up the valley ... very cold and dark place, but was fairly well flowing and accessible.
Having not seen any big supermarkets on the way through we dropped down the other side to Usine where we knew of several. Unfortunately there was a diversion on the direct route and we have a detour through the hills for a bit.
As we left the supermarket there was a message from Chris and M-J saying they would arrive about the time we would return, so arranging to meet in the cafe, we set off back - the more direct route as the diversion was only one way.

after a coffee the "immo" guy was around to take the tourist tax and hand over the keys with a little show around. he was panicking about our projected leave time until I offered to drop the keys in the post box.

The biggest issue with the apartment was the non existent parking, so we had to unload on the side of the main road and park around the corner in a lay-by. Other than that all was good and a large common area helped.

the heating system had a strange timer and also the ancient radiators were a little "variable" in efficiency across the elements. The walk to the bakery was about half a kilometer across the fields (helped by the frozen snow conditions) but coming back gave the legs and lungs a work out up the hill.

Trip Time Line

	|
	|	Arrive La Giettaz
La Giettaz	|
	|	Megeve
Grand Mont	|
	|	Croix des Butts
La Clusaz	|
	|	L'Eperon and Le Christomet
Return	|

Walk to Work Day

Car service time again, so as it was a good day, I planned to walk over the downs to the office and back again in the afternoon.

Part of the walk covered the usual route over the tops but also one covered by the poddle a few years ago.

Both routes involved going over the A3 and through the playing fields ... different route to the campus through the new buildings.
On the south side though I followed the north downs path in the morning , but closer to the google route in the afternoon ... google is not good for footpaths at the moment

Conwy castle, Conwy

I have never been to Conwy castle ... it is too far around the coast for our normal run to Snowdonia. As one of the early castles in the Welsh ring. As we were down the road it was a simple choice to go visit.
As a weekend it was relatively busy and not helped by a local carnival and a running race. Parking in the large car park outside the walls.

Back to the castle entrance

Through the retail element and up the approach to get to the gatehouse.
On the other side is this sculpture guarding the bailey. A view up to the original castle in the area high on the hill opposite, then through to the inner bailey.

In one of the towers was a scale model of the town and the castle as it was perceived.

The posh end .. outside on the "patio"

The view over the end of the town

The bridges over the river ... the train box bridge being the first then the suspension road bridge, finally the modern road bridge.

Back through the rooms and towers ... a lot of the corner towers had access to the top with views over the surrounding areas.
A couple of sculptures ...one of a hanging crown and head, the other of a tower of Armour with a sword at the top.

After the tour we came out and went around the town walls ... starting with a walk along the front then up the walls at the end of the town, climbing to the high point opposite the castle ... then down towards the castle. At the gate we came in - the wall walk ended, and we used the opportunity to return to the van and had some lunch.

Laxley Wheel & Mill

Last day on the island ... we had an afternoon ferry, so not time for anything complex. Time to be a grockle ...

Over to Laxley to look at the wheel - A bit of a pain to get to as the signs for parking were a little "local", so parked up and walked up to the wheel. We did not pay to go in, but looked from the outside.
.. once we got back to the van, we drove around to the village to see what else there was .. However we saw signs to the woolen mill and craft area. Back to the same parking slot and from here we walked down towards the craft mill.

On the way down we passed the rock preparation yard with a replica wheel.
In the woolen mill we saw a loom in operation .. modern variety with a very small shuttle. the best bit was the exhibition on the floor above ... lots of the usual painting, pottery and wooden bits.

Dropping down into Douglas, having failed dismally to find anywhere better to stop for lunch ... we ended up on the promenade.

Lunch in the back of the van people watching at the end of the horse tram run and the beginning of the electric train.
Not sure if this is a Manx cat or just a loped tail, but it was owning the road.

Calf of Man & The Chasms, Isle of Man

We ended up at the end of the island .. the road terminated at a cafe looking out over the sound to the calf of man.

Parking here we had a wander around. The monument was to islanders who worked on the rescue of seamen from a floundering ship.

The calf of man and the sound.

then avoiding the café, but making use of the facilities, we then set off again north.
The oldest village on the isle was Cregneash .. There was an original blackhouse here and some old features.
On the hill above was a strange structure I had seen from the train and also from the spit earlier in the day ... so we parked up and walked past the museum and up the hill to get a closer look. half hoping it was shelter over something historic.

. but It was Only comms "stuff". I later found out it is airport approach "stuff"

At the top of the hill was a major footpath leading down to a building on the horizon ... with large letters painted on the side "The Chasms".
It also had good views down to the calf of Man, and the southernmost lighthouse.

Beyond the building, which was now just a shelter, but research later showed it used to be a cafe, was a gate to an area through gorse bushes to the cliff edge.

Once you went a short way we encountered the first of the "chasms" or crevasses in the limestone.

even bigger closer to the edge ... and over the cliffs. Looking back up to the shelter.. there was only one route through

Back passed the Blackhouse and up to the car park.

Back at the van we planned to head back up the west coast to the campsite ... Again with all the walking in the day we did not feel like the long walk to the pub so opted to drive to the Mitre and repeat the earlier day.
On the way back we went over the end of the hills and looked over to Castletown and saw the spit and the walking route.