The drive up to Wissant near Calais was uneventful. Last time we stayed at the camper van aire in Wissant it was every busy and we just managed to squeeze in. It was busy this time too but, thankfully, we got the last proper space. We then wandered into the town for lunch. It was... Continue Reading →
Monday 28th August: There’s no place like home!
We were woken early by the alarm, pulled our clothes on, put the bed away, and left the aire to travel the 20 minutes to the Eurotunnel terminal. We checked in, collected a coffee and some breakfast and, when our time came, joined the queue to get on the train. After about 30 minutes, we... Continue Reading →
Thursday 24th and Friday 25th August: The beginning of the end
Our holiday is coming to an end and on Thursday we had a lazy day, while we planned how to spend our last few days. We spent some time sitting in the sunshine, before we went into the village for lunch... lovely galettes, then a crepe for John and an ice cream for me, washed... Continue Reading →
Wednesday 23rd August: Day 4, Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, Refuge de l’Arpont to Pralognan
After a refreshingly better night's sleep, with no snorers, we set off on what was to prove to be an epic day for seeing the local wildlife, as well as more stunning scenery. This is rather a long blog entry because it was such a good day, and there are lots of photos because it... Continue Reading →
Tuesday 22nd August: Day 3, Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, Refuge du Fond d’Aussois to Refuge de L’Arpont
What an awful night's sleep! The German man who we'd been chatting to over dinner, in John's words, 'snored like a pig'! After an enjoyable dinner, we had an early night and I fell asleep by 9 o'clock and didn't hear some of the others in the dormitory come to bed. However, at 11 o'clock... Continue Reading →
Monday 21st August: Day 2, Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, Refuge du Roc de la Peche to Refuge du Fond d’Aussois
We got up early after a rubbish night's sleep. Somehow, instead of putting the heating on for an hour or two to dry the washing and warm the room, we'd managed to leave it on over night. Although our bedroom was nice, we weren't impressed with the evening meal... tasteless soup and skinny chicken legs!... Continue Reading →
Sunday 20th August: Day 1, Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, Pralognan to Refuge du Roc de la Peche
When the alarm went off at 7.15, we jumped out of bed ready to start our trek. By 8.30 we were ready and locked the van and left. Straight away, the path climbed steeply from the campsite, backwards and forwards in a series of zigzags, into the forest, with intermittent views over the campsite, the... Continue Reading →
Saturday 19th August: Preparing for an adventure in the mountains
We've had a lovely relaxing day, with a late start, getting everything ready for our 5-day trek around the Vanoise glaciers, staying in 4 different mountain refuges. It's been a pleasure to spend a relatively lazy day on a campsite in a beautiful spot, and a pretty village. After breakfast, we checked our clothes, toiletries... Continue Reading →
Friday 18th August: Move to Pralognan la Vanoise
After yesterday's epic hike, today was very tame. That doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable... it was. After a leisurely start, we packed everything away and left the Ecrins behind to head to the Vanoise Alps. The first half of the drive was stunning, over 3 high mountain cols... the Col du Lauteret, the Col du... Continue Reading →
Thursday 17th August: An epic walk up to Breche Pacave 2836m
What an epic day! We agreed today's walk had everything! Cool forest paths, sunny meadows, rivers, a pretty lake, a refuge for a snack, great views over the Meije glacier and, in the other direction, over the valley to yesterday's hike, glacial rocks and scree, a Breche or gap in the rocks leading to a... Continue Reading →