Gentlemen in Nyon
Just 3 sailing today: Philip Jenkins, Dave Gwilliam and myself.
We started with an almost flat calm but then the wind got up to a very pleasant force 3. Unfortunately there was a lot of water in the bilges so I spent much of the time below deck mopping it out and leaving the other 2 to sail the boat. I believe the water tank must have ruptured – need to check it out later.
We all needed a beer at the end.
Photographer was so incompetent he could not find the button to make a selfie!!
On Friday July 26, Martin Vaughan hosted the latest ‘wine connoisseurs’ tasting…… 9 members responded…….6 wines were selected from 6 islands around the world……Brian Allardyce surpassed himself with 3 correct wines and their related islands……..chapeau!
Our next sessions are:
David Gwilliam in August
David Stieber in September
Ian Cappin in October
Myself Terry in November
Come and join us for our next sessions…….a warm ‘wining’ awaits you…..
Great ride before (or in ?) the canicule up past Genolier, Bassins and Le Vaud before swooping down into Gilly and Peter Drews favourite terrace. Porc and spaghetti was excellent, as was the beer, and the company. A day among many to remember. Peter T, Peter D, Steve and Mark.
Magic.
5 intrepid GIN hikers set off from Coppet on a sunny day but with forecast
clouds for Chamonix. The sun shone all day however and we had a splendid hike over the Prarion summit (1931m) up 820m on a fine and airy ridge from Vaudagne. One member attempted to start the hike with two right boots but managed to fit well in to Peter’s running shoes which were only a few sizes too big. After a steady ascent and summit traverse with admittedly stupendous views we calmed ourselves with some Brasserie du Mt Blanc Bierre Blonde on a terrace at the top with similar stunning views up the mountain, memorably also of the train crawling up to the Nid d’Aigle. The Aig. du Midi and the whole Mt Blanc wall of rock and ice saluted us. We stumbled back down through the cooling forest, dodging speeding bikers, but with some fine memories. Attending – David College, Robert Pashley, Mark Warren, Mervyn Powell, Peter Taylor.
Continue reading “GINs Hiking – Ascent of Le Prarion 18 July 2019”
Perfect weather for a lovely sail. Sunny with force 3 gusting 4. Crew this time was Dave G, Mervyn, myself plus Lynda (fellow boat owner and official photographer). Nothing dramatic, just across the lake a few times, but enough wind to decide on life jackets. Also discussed the man overboard procedure which we’ll practice in a subsequent outing.
Knot tests
And some essential rehydration (thanks to Mervyn for providing the beer)
Gentle tour of the Pays de Gex with nice lunch in Gex. Mervyn kept his shoe together with rubber bands, Mark finessed and Steve cruised it. Dave Gernand joined us for the first part and we look forward to more from him. We did a good turn too – we helped rescue an Italian driver with two front wheels firmly in a ditch. Pleasant biking in pleasant company. P
Gins Mervyn. Richard and Peter with aspirant from Evian, Freddie, scaled the Dent d’Oche which sits at 2222m (or 2221m). With over 1000m of denivellation, up some atmospheric heights, using chains and with some scrambling, this is an interesting and challenging hike. The chamois were not scared of us and provided some good photo ops. A memorable day with good chums. Thanks Mervyn for organising and driving, and to Brian Hardy and Denise for the showers, dip in the swimming pool and tea and cake above the Lake at Evian.
Ken Forrester organised an excellent lunch for 24 of us at this lovely Auberge. Unfortunately, views of the Alps were obscured by haze, but this didn’t prevent us enjoying a tasty, well-presented three course meal with plenty of lubricants to wash it all down! The ambience was, as usual, very lively with lots of animated discussions. Many thanks, Ken.
No Peter T (feeble excuse about being stuck in England due to cancelled flight), so ably led by Steve with Mervyn following and Mark GW bringing up the rear.
Similar route to previous trip: to Genolier, but not by the Abbaye de Bonmont, then onto Coinsins for coffee, then Gilly and Tartegnin for lunch. Slightly more direct route back.
Somewhere around 50 kms, longer for Steve and Mervyn, and about 400 m climbing.
Good cycling despite the severe heat.
Morning sail this time. Just Dave G, Rudi, Mark GW plus our own photographer, Lynda.
Absolutely dead calm at first so we motored for a while and then a slight breeze picked up allowing a very gentle sail. First of the season, only put the sails on last week. Brand new motor behaved very nicely.
Necessary re hydration at end
An also for our photographer and honorary GIN member
