When all at once I saw a crowd
William 2Ws ish
A host of golden dandelions and buttercups
Last year we hiked via La Dôle to Sonnailley to find the daffodils mostly spent. This year we were one day earlier and they were worse (spenter?). However our leader, me, had already lowered expectations and told the participants they would need to bring their imagination so all was not lost.
Seven of us plus a furry hound gathered at 10:00 at the parking at la Givrine on what promised to be a cold and wet day and Météo Suisse did not disappoint: we had some rain, sleet, hail and mist over the course of the hike. Fortunately not too much of any of these and it was even dry at our lunch stop. There may have been a little sunshine but not enough to be noticeable.
We arrived in 3 cars and spent the first couple of hours trying to master the intricacies of the newly installed parking meters.
That accomplished we set off up to the Couvaloup de Crans and onward to La Dôle going through a field of daffodils on the way up. At least the leader had the sense to avoid saying that an even better display awaited them at Sonnailley.
Once at the Dôle we had done most of the climbing and it was clearly time for an aperitif. So we stood in the lee of one of the buildings with a bottle of white and a variety of nibbles, finally washed down with a glass of Welsh whisk(e?)y. We raised a toast to absent friends, especially Stephen.
We met a Scottish beggar at the top, we had no cash so we gave him a bit of food
Then it was time to start the descent, along the ridge to the South West and down what is marked as a footpath but in reality is an invitation to fall and crack your head on the rocky path. Fortunately we all got down intact and to the road which leads past the Grand Sonnailley to our designated picnic spot. This road passes within about 10 metres of the French border and there was much discussion of (illegal) entente cordiale meetings there during the pandemic.
The picnic spot was a slight rise, mostly out of the wind, and with no rain. Unfortunately there were no daffodils either, but plenty of buttercups. Fortunately we have photographs from 2 weeks earlier when they were at their best.
Lunch was washed down with an excellent red, some Scotch, more Welsh and coffee. Then we we returned via the Sonnailley au Prince hut to the Couvaloup and thereafter down the road to la Trélasse (both closed so no opportunity for a beer) and back to our cars.
Present Peter T, Mervyn, Nathan, Rob, Richard W, 2 Marks, Kobie. 14 km, 690m denivelation.
Excuses ranged from ‘only got one working leg’ to ‘going to concerts in Prague’ to ‘wife reset my priorities’.
Imaginative hike Mark, complete with sleet and a beggar, in conditions that seem benign looking back. Good job we all packed for the worst. Merçi encore. PnK
Well done to the leader, not only reducing expectation but finding daffodils under difficult climatic conditions. Plan it in for 2 weeks earlier next year!