3 Nov 2022
The weather forecast for several days had showed rain on the Thursday afternoon, and it was not wrong. The forecast was for sub 10C temperatures in cloud but little wind. Somewhat alarmingly 3 of the 6 starters turned out in shorts for this ride. Quel insouciance.. Anyway we set off at 10 am from the Evenness. Stephen, Mervyn, E-Reinier, Ivan, Mark and me.
My plan was to lunch at the Founex Tennis Club so that I could roll back down afterwards to my home in 3 minutes rain or no rain. Thus a route up heart-attack hill (Mourex) and across the wonderful woods including Mt Musey and round and back to Mourex then down was mooted and accepted by the party.
The weak sun was soon to disappear but there was a sense of optimism, there was little wind, and the run through the forest then up over the Versoix River to Grilly is always pleasant. Not quite so the hill after the short transit on the bike path. That hill to Mourex is Peter Drew’s favourite, but I cannot see why, as it is steep and not short. My heart went up to stratospheric levels just plodding up. Reinier surged past us with ease.
At the top we regrouped. My plan now diverged from our normal route (down and across to Vesancy) and turned up right to the parking before the open area of Mt Mourex. Trending right along the VTT trail which with a dog and good boots is a nice stroll, is a bit more of a challenge for bikes. Indeed the next 5 K was a little out of our ordinary fare.
There was layer of fallen leaves, albeit dry, hiding roots and stones and slippy stuff generally.
We survived and turned sharp left above the parking (above Divonne) to head up the main trail to Mt Musey and back to Mt Mourex. Some way up this trail Stephen and I waited for the others, then he went back to find them all. Ivan, Mervyn and Mark arrived, but not Reinier nor Stephen. Mervyn told us that Reinier had received a call to attend his doctor and had descended. (We have heard since that he survived). Eventually S returned having not found R, and we regrouped.
Stephen was pleased – after 4 years he had found that his bike had front suspension. Ivan was pleased – his new bike was 21st century and had low gears. Mervyn and Mark seemed pleased too; they had stayed upright on their less than VTTs and had cruised the bumps. I was pleased – nobody fell.
Fabulous views, across to a brooding Mt Blanc resplendent in new snow but under a menacing blue hue, welcomed us at Mt Mourex. This view stretches across the lower Rhone basin below Geneva, with the Jura chain on the right and Lac Leman and the Alps on the left, and is recommended for a fine day.
In view of the time and the weather forecast we opted to return the same way down to the valley, before a slightly different route back through Commugny led to the Founex Tennis Club. The restaurant was quiet, service friendly, the beers excellent as was the food.
Conversation at lunch was wide and varied (a new PM in the UK since our last ride was noted) and I recall we discussed cooking and coffee preparation as well as getting an update on Ivan’s Ukraine experience with the ongoing war. Much suffering. We are so lucky.
The rain came heavy and cold shortly after I got home, bang on the forecast time. I lit our fire and took a hot shower.
Only 27 km but 460 m – and some wonderful forest trails.
