Riding the Day Away

I told someone the other day I never go back. Meaning, forward or straight ahead are my preferred direction. Detours are appreciated and veering off is fine too but going back from where I came generally is not beneficial. Of course there are exceptions to this but they are rare; today such an exception occurred. 

I went for a long leisurely bicycle ride that was to take me around the lake. They have incredible bicycle paths here that take you under trees, behind houses, along the water, and through parks. They are wide enough for multiple bicycles and seem to be well utilized. I had heard it was 40-45 kilometers around the lake but had no map and honestly was not concerned. I figured I had most of the day to enjoy the sunshine and the spectacular views of the lake. 23 kilometers in I stopped to take a break, and eat a bit of food.

As I sat and enjoyed the view I wondered where I was and if the path did indeed go around the lake. I had seen a bicycle path around the lake but there were many paths and not many signs along the way. Then it happened, the worry...it just sort of slipped in there.

Where am I going? Where will this path take me? What if something happens to the bike? Do i know enough French to describe a bicycle problem? What if I am find a map and I am too far or too tired to ride back? What if, what if, what if???

As I am meandering my way through France these worries are as minor as they come.  So as a fairly reasonable person I recognized this AND the response of "well we don't ever go back" as both thoroughly unhelpful and a waste if energy. Rather I decided to continue eating and see how I felt when done.

Wouldn't you know that upon completion I was ready to go? not in the unknown direction but back from whence I came. And not out of worry but out of desire to see what I saw from a different direction. And what I found along the way were items I hadn't seen before and a different perspective of the path.

Sometimes it just makes sense to go back.

Oh what to do?

Ah I know...

Saying Goodbye to the Alps

The 10 day trek is complete, I did not fall off a mountain and my body has shown no signs of revolt as it did a year ago! Success! 

Said goodbye to the beautiful alps this morning and headed away to Annecy. Arrived in freshly (and quite thoroughly) washed clothes with two of my treking pals and we strolled the streets of the old town until one had to depart for the next in a string of French adventures.

One more day here, maybe I will take a bike ride around the lake, or meander through the streets, or sit at cafe to write and people watch.

Stories and pictures to come....do you know how  long it takes to upload 407 photos on a hostel connection?!

WiFi again?!

Another day with wifi, clearly we are in the valley and not high in the mountains. Arpette Switzerland- known for its ski slopes, blueberries and fondue.

Here are a few photos...more to come after the trek.

La Fouly

A few pics from this morning...day 7. We start off in about 20 minutes- 15 ish kilometers of walking in the valleys with a bit of uphill at the end of the day. A light day really, if it were not for the rain which will come in about an hour.

Alpine Adventure update

Arrived in Chamonix with a half day to explore this touristy village at the base of Mont Blanc. It is a cute little place with beautiful views. I explored, ate lunch along the rushing mountain water, and bought a new pair of trekking sticks. Then off to the hostel which I would rate as less than average.

The next morning I set off for Les Houches, the meeting point for the trek. 10 arrived, 9 set off- a French couple, a Danish woman, 3 Australians, myself, 1 French guide, and a mule.

We are on day 6 now and have lost the French couple. We arrived in La Fouly very wet thanks to a mid-day shower. We arrived to find hot showers and wifi access (the first so far)!

More to come after the trek...for now enjoy the photos :) 

Familiar Places

The last 24 hours have been a mix of new and familiar.

New- taking the 4 month old non-stop flight from SFO (11 hrs), sitting in an exit row and being asked "are you prepared to do what needs to get done in the event of a crash, like they did on the asiatic flight (the one that crashed)?", a different room with a new view in Lyon.

Familiar- CDG airport and the SNCF station, having all technology not function or dysfunction, mangling the little French I do know, missing a train, the hostel in Lyon, already repacked my backpack 3 times in 24 hours.

Ok so I am in Lyon for the night and will be on an early train (actually 2) in the am. I probably should go out and enjoy the city but I am tired AND I have to get up early in order to  get to the station! If I weren't going on another epic trek I wouldn't be detered by the exhaustion and early hour...but I have this trek :-)

Oh and for just a moment I feel the need to comment on the flight attendant's question. If she and the airline expect that those in the exit rows will fulfill what she implied were crisis management techniques, such as opening the door and finding an appropriate place for it in the airplane, directing and communicating with highly emotional individuals, working effectively with your exit row seatmates, and staying calm and thoughtful during a possible crisis...then either they should lower their expectations or create some sort of certification which muat be xompleted in order to sit in the exit rows. Seriously. The door in my aircraft was 58 pounds, I am not willing to bet my life that everyone who curently sits in an exit row can lift that.  And shouldnt there be height requirements? The doors are tall! And what about language capacity? Don't you want individuals who speak the local languages or on internation flights the language where the flight originated and its destination? I don't know, I just didn't feel comfortable with her question.

Alrighty thats all I got.

Alpine Adventure

Minutes away now from another adventure in the alps. The weeks leading up have been chaotic;  I had forgotten the challenges of prepping for a trip while still on the job!

All is done now and I am ready to board...au revoir!

Misery Trail

This might be the best and most appropriate name for a trail yet. 1000 feet up in one mile. In the sun. The views were worth it though.

Then there's this guy they call "monkey face" but I am thinking it is more like  "planet-of-the-apes face"...what do you think.

Here are more photos from the hike:

Airport view

Charlotte airport from above.