Our GIN lunch at the L’Accord Parfait went very well. An elite group of 9 GIN members enjoyed an excellent lunch in the recently renovated restaurant. The new modern and comfortable decor are very attractive and are a big improvement from the former restaurant Au Vieux Bois.
The food, ambiance and friendly, efficient service were all great.
The participants used several different modes of transportation, 2 bikers, 2 walkers and 5 came by car.
Definitely a restaurant worth a visit.
Gerry Swart, Dave Gwilliam, John Burley, Mark Warren, Peter Taylor, Barry Armstrong, Reinier Tervooren, Drew Meek, Mark Watts.
The GIN Bikers team assembled for a ride to the GIN lunch organised by Gerry at the Accord Parfait above Divonne.
Well, two of us assembled at the Everness and set off in perfect weather for Crans, Nyon lakeside, Prangins, Trelex, Givrins (coffee stop), Bonmont and Divonne.
Super ride with warm sun for a coffee at our favourite bakery (we could not justify croissants in view of the upcoming feast).
We arrived bang-on midday hungry for the fine lunch.
The day dawned bright and clear. Harry called in to apologise. Which left Richard W, Mervyn, Mark 2ts, Philip, Mike and PeterT. And Kobie.
Shorts 3, Breeches 1, Trousers 2.
We assembled at 10.30 at the Trelex woods parking and set off across to and up the Trelex River.
Looking upstream with the leaders away up in the distance
In short order we were up to the level of the Gorge, and the weather being gorgeous and with time to spare we elected to inspect it. Sadly although there was water in the upper river, the top source itself was dry.
Turning right up out of the gorge
Kobie was behaving, because he had mostly to be kept on a leash, and we made good progress as he pulled me up to a short coffee/water stop. The worst bit was to come, rising up steadily in hot sun, then across to the Parapente Seat for a further stop. There were fine views across to Mt Blanc just visible in the haze, and the Haut Cime (heck we did that!), as well as the Jet d’Eau. It was warm.
On the seat below the parapente field
Mark getting out the Luins
It was at this point that Mark decided to lighten his load by inviting us all to taste the latest chasselas from Luins, which indeed slipped down nicely.
Unfortunately at this point one of the party began to feel a bit feint in the heat with the wine and was swiftly revived with water. We were nearly there so we continued carefully across the cliff top path to the train station at St Cergue where lunch was taken with some suitable red provided by Mervyn.
The afternoon thunderstorm was threatening and so we duly elected to cut the walk short and descend to the valley having had the best of the day and the scenery.
There followed the excellent red train descent down the Jura enjoyed by men and dog (half-price tickets for dogs).
The party split at Genolier with half continuing to Givrins, from which there is a short walk over the river (and another dog paddle) to the cars.
I reckon about 8 km and 573m for the Givrins party, 485m for the Genoliers. A fine first day out with a good way down for those with squeaky knees. Kobie enjoyed it – thanks to each of the party for being his friend.
The walk from Montreux to the Chateau de Chillon and then a visit to the Fort had been planned for a long time, but Covid intervened. We finally managed it on 30th March, when 7 of us congregated at the Freddy Mercury statue in Montreux and walked for an hour to Chillon. The weather didn’t look too good, but Alan, Rudi, Tim, Paul, Colin, Wouter, and Brian were undaunted. The spring flowers and the magnolias were impressive, and we remarked that Montreux must spend a fortune on their gardens. Arriving at the Chateau we had a leisurely lunch and some of us even took the opportunity for a quick visit inside the Chateau.
Then across the road to the Fort which has not long been open. It was constructed in 1940 and 41 because at that time the Swiss believed a German invasion was highly likely. It was one of a large number of such Forts across Switzerland and was intended to repel attacks that might come at the end of Lake Leman. There are many camouflaged firing ports in the hillside and the soldiers lived in the various rooms which had been carved out of the mountain. We had an introduction in English and were then able to go by ourselves into the various rooms: the bunk rooms, kitchen, refectory, generator room, hospital, etc. In most of the rooms a full-size video was projected onto the wall showing what went on there. These were often humorous, for example in the hospital where a surgeon was busy doing a spoof operation using tools and gadgets from a Swiss Army knife handed to him by a colleague. The visit continued with a short film and then outside to an observation platform where you get a superb view of the Chateau, see below.
We all agreed this was a very interesting visit and well worth the walk to and from Montreux.
Mark Warren chose this excellent eatery, located just after a right hand hairpin halfway up the road to the Col de La Faucille.
In all 17 members turned up Mark2rs, Mark2ts, Ken, David, Norman, Mervyn, MikeH and MikeC, Wouter, Gerry, Stephen, Brian, Bryan, Alan, Trevor, PeterD and PeterT. The weather was just perfect, especially for four members who biked up and back. Views from this restaurant are spectacular in such weather.
The fixed price menu (Eu 42) dish of the day was Pierrade or Fondu, and 16 chose Pierrade, so 17 ate it. A good salad, with an apero provided, 5 hot stones and plenty of meat for us “vegans”and meat-eaters to tuck into, supplemented by sauces, chips and cheesy potatoes. The red wine washed it down well and the desserts were scrumptious too, followed by coffee. We had a chance to move chairs and mingle a bit. It was a most convivial affair or the first of the season for GINClub. There was also a surfeit of meat from which Kobie benefitted..
The view at 11.30 amPeterD and MikeC tuck inWouter and Ken with some hot meatGerry, Trevor, Alan, Mark2rs, David, Mervyn, Stephen all tuck in Reverse view with Norman on the left Cafe gourmand and intense discussionsWouter enjoying a dessert
Thanks again to Mark2rs for a great lunch, 12 noon to 2.30 pm.
The bike team assembled to have a tilt at the run up to the GIN Lunch at Florimont at 960m on the road up to Col de la Faucille.
Sadly Mark2ts called off with respiratory issues but he made the lunch. SO four of us, Peter D (leader for the outing), Stephen, Mervyn and myself, set off in bright blue sky from the Everness at 9.30am. Somehow the early start was chosen because of expected slowness. On reaching Gex up the rail-trail before 10.15 am we realised that we needed to stop for a welcome coffee.
A coffee to while away some time
Suitably refreshed (merci PeterD) we set off in higher gear and lesser clothing up the hill through Gex and then directly up. It was a case of just pressing on at one’s own speed. We found a route that avoided all but 300 metres of the main road and emerged all of a sudden at the Florimont at 11.30am, with 30 minutes to bask in the sunshine awaiting the main crew for lunch.
The final approach to Florimont. Avoiding the main road. Florimont view with attendees trickling in.PeterT, Mervyn, Stephen, PeterD ready for lunch
After a very fine lunch (see separate Blog), the bike team set off for the easy part. A run back to Evenness in under 45 minutes, down our up trails, through Gex, the rail-trail, and Chavannes woods.
A really great start to the bike season. Thanks to Peter D for suggesting it and leading us. I recorded 610m deniv, there and back from my house. And about 37 km.
A convivial evening was held at the home of Martin Vaughan and his wife Fay at 7.30, February 24.
This was our opening gathering for 2022…….8 participants were able to sample and try to recognize 6 different red wines from two countries, Spain and Portugal. Highest score was 4 from Paul……very commendable …….
The accommodation could only have taken 4 but due to all the GINjuries and other commitments only Mervyn and Mark were able to make this outing. The venue was Tignes, a 3 hour drive away, and very empty at weekends, so we set off at 9 on Saturday morning and were skiing by 1. First off was up the Grande Motte and, since there were no queues, up the Telepherique to the glacier at 3458m. From there we skied over to Val d’Isère gaining no points for style as we negotiated the moguls of épaule which were scraped bare of soft snow. On our return to Tignes we both decided that the main problem was the lack of edges on our skis and nothing to do with our ability so we duly rectified that, but that took away our excuse!
Top of Grande Motte
Sunday was the end to end day. We were at the Aiguille Percée by 10 and at les Brévières, 1550m, lowest point of the whole resort, by 10:30. Then over to Val d’Isère and over the Leissières up and over lift to Col de l’Iseran. We missed out on the furthest extreme, mainly as a result of having eaten a good lunch too early.
The Aiguillle PercéeSki group coordinator, working hard
Monday we had to correct the omission so we booked a late (14:00) lunch at the Eidelweiss restaurant, a favourite, and explored the remainder of Val d’Isère, including the Montets lift to the furthest point from Brévières. After a wonderful lunch we were even worried about connecting with the last lift back into Tignes.
Montets, furthest SouthishFar too many people on these slopes
Tuesday was planned as half a day so we revisited the Aiguille Percée then up the Grande Motte for a run down Leisse, coffee at the Panoramique (no lunch since we needed to drive) and a long descent down Génépi.
Restaurant at the Panoramique (we were sorely tempted)
We were home by 17:00 for tea and cakes at Mervyn’s.
Summary
Highest point – la Grande Motte (3458m)
Lowest point – les Brevières (1550m)
Furthest North – les Brevières
Other extreme – Montets
Plenty of snow but a little bit hard packed in places.
Clear blue skies every day, no sign of any clouds.
Fabulous 3 days, great snow, no crowds, good food and drink.
The highest point in the Jura, the Crêt de la Neige (1718m) provides on a good day some of the best views of the Alps as well as the Jura and despite a slight haze Tuesday 1 March was a good day. Just as important it was windless.
Taking the télécabine from Lelex up to the Catheline, six of us set off on the well-marked trail. There was still enough snow to warrant the use of snowshoes but if it does not snow again, this may well be our last outing using them.
The going was relatively easy with slight slopes to begin with and then there was a steeper climb up to the top. Half way up, David had a snowshoe catastrophe as the rivet holding the strap onto the shoe came out, making the shoe useless.
Red shoes
Thankfully Nicolas had the ingenuity to think of and implement a solution – he used his key ring to join the two parts together which enabled David to continue with no further incidents.
To quote Hilary Sharp from her guide to snowshoeing in the Alps: “There are many reasons to toil uphill, but one of the most satisfying is to see the ever-widening vista”, and we weren’t disappointed as we first saw the Alps from a relatively narrow viewpoint and then the full skyline once we reached the top.
Lunch crew
These views from the top were well worth our efforts and we stopped for our picnic just short of the summit gazing at the panorama, with Richard and Drew offering the aperitives.
The summit team went on to that objective while Philip and Mark ambled on the return route. Understandably, the return was more rapid than going, so it wasn’t too long before we reached Franck (and Laos) at the Refuge la Loge for beers.
Conversation covered many subjects, including of course independence – but this time, Rob please note, we were talking about Ukraine.
The total hike was 9km with a height difference of 410m. A lovely day out on a classic hike. Thank you the drivers.
Participants: RichardS, DavidC, DrewM, PhilipJ, NicolasU and Mark2R
Some of Drew’s shots (reduced in size for this site) :-
Richard and Mark 2rrs led this fine excursion (9km and just over 300m) on a perfect day from La Givrine (1207m) to Cabane Rochefort (1385m) for lunch and La Genolière (1348m) for coffee and tart. Conditions were pretty much perfect. A crisp, cold morning blessed us with blue skies and warming sun, with plenty of snow in similar excellent condition.
Six punters including Mark 2tts, Mervyn, Philip and me, set out with a large hairy blighter called Kobie. Generally throughout the day in my opinion the dog was as well behaved as the punters. The SS trail meandered up eastwards to Combe Grasse in two large snow-crystal bowls.
Looking ahead into the combe, nice cold air in the bowlHappy trail runnersResting the dog
There were few folk about and spirits were high. Kobie could not wander too far from the trail as he would otherwise sink into the slightly crusty snow.
Kobie leading the way
We ascended the easy ridge with alpine views up the the Cabane Rochefort in time to establish ourselves on the only clear table in the sun, with a fabulous view out over the lake to Mt Blanc. The Cabane being closed, we were free to picnic with our own beverages, and Guatemalan rum quickly made its presence felt again. We are now into stylish Stanley shot-cup technology as initiated by Rob, but they don’t work well with hot coffee..
The calm before the stormHeavenSeven for lunch
Very soon the quiet of our day was somewhat disturbed by a band of 40 or more teenagers out on a school snow-shoe expedition and who had chosen to lunch at the same Cabane. Somehow this disturbed our quiet, but not us, and indeed Kobie had much fun trying to beg for additional nutrients.
Chewing over the problems of the worldProblems solvedThe days of Kobie the Cobberdog
White and red wines, coffee and some sausage sticks, cherry tomatoes and crisps, sandwiches and fruit, with plenty of treats for the hound.
Having covered rugby, cricket, the Winter Olympics, Boris and partygate, Brexit, COVID pandemic, Scottish independence, the coming economic crunch, Ukraine, gardening and a toast to absent friends, it was time to leave. Happily the crowd of students had departed and we were quickly on our way over to La Genolière for coffee and promised tarts. It was busy but we waited a few minutes for a table. Kobie played with his chum the resident hut doodle resuming their play from several previous visits, the first a year ago.
Kobie and his chum at La Genolière with Mt Blanc behind
We spent a pleasant further hour or so outside at La Genolière over coffee and fine apple tart, albeit Mervyn’s chosen vin cuit tarte was admittedly somewhat diminutive.
There remained a pleasant amble back through the forest avoiding the main walking trail, albeit it was a tad unpleasant for me as my (already troubled and overused) knee-tendons gave way just before the cars. The pain was worth it for the great day we had had. I am now in recovery mode. Kobie is fine. With thanks to those who put up with him, especially Mervyn who had a neck wash on the drive up.
PS For those who heard it, the impenetrable Monty Python RAF banter goes like this:-
Idle : “Bally Jerry, pranged his kite right into the howsyourfather; Hairy Blighter, dicky birded, feathered back on his sammy, took a waspy, flipped over onto his Betty Harpers, and caught his can in the Bertie”.
Palin inter alia : “Sausage Squad up the blue end ?” and “Bunch of monkeys on the ceiling, sir! Grab your egg-and-fours and let’s get the bacon delivered” and “Cabbage crates coming over the briny?” etc..
