Lunch – Page 3 – GIN Club

Biking to Genolier 8 Sept 2021

Peter Drew organised a bike route on this fine day, seemingly at the near end of the Indian Summer. Four bikers turned out at the Divonne Lake, sorry five. Mark 2RRs had thought the start was at 10 am and not 9.30am.

Mervyn, E-Thatcher and two Peters spent the waiting time usefully discussing cleaning products and vacuuming machines.

Once Mark had finally arrived we set off on this excellent route in a clockwise direction.

The initial phase from Divonne to Gex was spent on the very pleasant bike path built over the old railway tracks. Up and right through Vesancy our leader declared we had time for a statutory Bonmont so we duly trundled up the down road.

Having dispensed with the elevation element what followed was a gentle ride down and across to Givrins and then Genolier. The Trois Tileulles has an excellent terrace spoilt marginally by the traffic noise at the crossroads. The gourmet plat du jour at chf 25, included stuffed mushrooms, tender beef filet with noodles and green beans, and some form of mango crème anglaise. All washed down with excellent beer and coffee. On nice white linen (nb good cleaning product used). Indeed a high point of our bike dining this year.

Sadly Maarrk moved as I took this pano, as did Meervyyn.

The subjects of our intercourse moved through faith and religion, or our sad lack of it, weddings, quantum field theory (Mark is rereading pages 1 to 3), absent friends, travel, vaccines, E-Bikes, dogs and cleaning products (part 2). (I may have missed key sections).

It was all too soon time to depart and we rolled back through Trelex, Grens, and Divonne. A great ride with fine weather and company. Missing a few of our regulars and hoping they will be back with us soon. I clocked 50 km and 536m from my home, but Peter D says it was 42.5km and 585m (from Divonne).

Hikers to Barillette 24 Sept 20

Steve recalibrated this hike after the weather forecast seemed to preclude Morgins and the higher hills. Instead he chose the Barillette attracting a further 9 of us who signed up for the promise of a good hike and the possibility of a tasty fondue. Initial attempts to find the right trail were frustrated by loggers and at one point we descended back 60m downhill on the trail of pain. Happily Steve found the trail to paradise and even the sun came out. About 1000m up and about 3 hours of gently toil saw us at the mast for reasonable views over the lake.

Lunch at the Barillette was indeed worth the hike and we shared the cheerful room with a group of Swiss trekking tennis players who included a Swiss horn player. After beer, wine and a fine fondue (for 80% of us), and some Scottish fluid, we were serenaded to some fine horn playing/wind music. Tarte maison, coffee slipped down well and we fell out into some wet weather, but actually it stopped pretty soon and we enjoyed a pleasant descent to the cars at Bonmont (albeit some Bonmont regulars did not recognise the Bonmont cycle road and attempted a repeat ascent). Attending Steve, David, Philip, Mark W and Mark W, Mervyn, Peter T, Richard, Rob and Thatcher. Apologies from Drew M and Peter D. Total up 1030m. Distance unknown to me. Just in time before really bad weather came in, including snow to 1200m predicted.

Actually Pascal Loutan loutanp@gmail.com – Cor Des Alpes, Architecture, Atelier Proteger

Message from our leader.

Thanks for your patience as I considered the similar-looking roads to paradise or pain (and sometimes made the incorrect decision). However, we reached paradise (the Barillette restaurant) at the alloted hour and managed to avoid the pain of the real storm that hit later in the evening. We lost electricity for half an hour in the evening after one impressive lightening strike.
As you say, a memorable walk for the turn out, the restaurant, the alcoholic consumption and, of course, the alphorn playing.
Looking forward to reading the blog!
Regards to all,Stephen

Hiking Section Ententes Cordially

The CH and FR sub-sections of the GIN hiking group enjoyed a memorable re-encounter in a socially-distancing summit entente-cordial among the flowers at the border high in the Jura last week. Leader Rob was missing with an Achilles excuse (g.w.s. Rob). A team of 5 from CH meandered up from Givrine over La Dole for the rendezvous, meeting 3 from FR. There followed warm greetings in warm sun, a fabulous Lac Leman view to a peerless Mt Blanc, sandwich lunch washed down with plenty of red wine, and much chatting with lockdown news to catch up on. We parted each to our ways, CH retreating back over La Dole and continued over the Pointe de Poèle Chaud and the Pointe de Fin Chateau, before descending on a gentle path back through the glades to the cars at Givrine (800m denivellation). Uplifting day. Attending. David C, Peter D, Steve, Mervyn, Peter T, Richard, Mark Wn, Philip. Apologies Rob P, Mark W.

Coffee at Couvaloup before we were separated to 2 tables.

GINs Lunch – Tannay 5 Feb 2020

Rudi Pluss organised a fine lunch at the Auberge du Lion d’Or in Tannay. Really fine set menu of salad, pork and then dessert. The sun shone and the wine flowed. It was good also to have a short mingle before we sat down to eat. Waiter Roch took some good (selfie) photos for us and appreciated our name badges, even giving himself one. 24 Attended including, Rudi, Bryan, Paul, Dave, Alan, Brian, Thatcher, Trevor D, Trevor G, Tim, John, Richard, David C, Steve, Tony, Reinier, Wouter, Terence, Mike, Ian, Simon, Peter and possibly others late on the list. Merci to Rudi.

Lunch at the Auberge de Duillier, 27th June

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.