Almost...........

Isaw the Citroen on the street but the owner was not about to get any info from.
The other one was made in Switzerland and is a 2.3 ltr 6 cylinder with a very proud owner. Unfortunately I have forgotten the make.
The shots above are for my brother. I go without seeing a decent motor for months and then three or four come along at the same time,







After being laid low with a bad back I'm really happy I came down to Lausanne and did a few easy days around the lake to get going again. I even managed to get up into the Alps but just failed to get right up to the St Bernard. It puts me back onto schedule to have finished France and Suisse and be in Italy by early July to fly home from Milan. A few photos of the walk from Martigmy to Ossieres, which was very tough. One is of me with where I'm goimg to behind me.

Special interest

This one is for Sarah. It is one of the best bits of community art I have seen for ages. I will get John to teach me how to turn these around but for the moment please tilt head,
After Duncan´s comments about TEFL in Egypt I thought he would like to see this ad which is all over the place.
This one is for John. There are lots of these little fernicular railways the farmers use to get up and doyn to the vines. As a business start up consultant I wondered what you thought of the branding, the name in particular.
This is one for Allan Andrews if he is watching. You do mot often see massedl trombone bands, especially being conducted by Johnny Halliday. Some backdrop though.

Worth the wait for this motor I think Dave.




I hope that the people who these photos are for enjoy them.

Swiss blog

I have got a hotel in Vervay at 80Fr pn with a 50 Fr pilgrim discount and although the room is tiny and overlooks the railway it has a pool. I¦ve been working my way around the lake and up the Rhone Valley from Lausanne towards the St Bernard. Back is OK.

These pictures are in a chronological order (for a change) and you can see me getting closer to the distinctive pyramid shaped mountain. The last one is taken from Mortigny which is behind the mountain. The next few days depend on the weather.

I was quite damning about Geneva but this end of the lake is so much nicer. Perhaps it is the mountains or the fact that there are far less crowds here. It is much nicer that Bala.

Anyway, on to Suisse and hope to blog again soon.



A few photos of Besancon which is a great city. Nice people including the people in the Tourist Office. Great place to get stuck if anywhere.

I saw a student demo there the first day and realised the French are much more political than the Brits. Lots of cars with loudspeakers and political posters: Thought Dave"s colleague Harri in Neath might like a couple of these. The first is a poster for the new Anti capitalist üarty and the next is for a theatre and music group night. The design is great and contradicts the name of the evening. Hope zyou enjoy these Harry.

Oh dear..........

Picked up a bit of paper in my room on Sunday and had spasm in back which is still with me and have had to stay in Besancon for two more days. The next bit is really tough with two 28 k hikes and a third of 17 k all uphill into the Jura then a third of 24 k into Switzerland. The first two are off bus routes so if the back played up I'd be stuck. Today it is a bit better but to try this route with a pack would be stupid. It's lucky I've been stuck in Besancon as it is really nice, cheap and has internet access. Now trying to sort out the options as I have to be in Geneva on 17th for a quick trip home to sign the contract for the new house and pick up more medication. If I can get to Lausanne by train then I can do a few days walking around the lake with a day pack but I'll have to come back to do the Besancon to Lausanne bit later in the trip which is a pain. Nil desperandum.

Oh yes.........

One of my shoes was starting to fall apart and this morning these shoe repairers re-stitched it and kindly would take no payment. The doctors at the hospital who took my INR were great but I cannot publish the photo as I only got the top of their heads in the shot.

Have added a special interest photo for Bob. Bob is in to photos of structures for holding up roofs and this one is a corker. Might be a bit OTT for your purposes Bob. I have also been looking for knockers to photo for John Rendle's collection but no luck. Maybe Italy will be better.

Photos

People at party to open Kristian's campsite

Couple who gave me break when I was tired.

Ladies who gave me a lift up the hill in Langres

Aline and Philippe who own the ch d'h and gave me a pilgrim discount. View from my terrace and the ch d'h in Dampierre.

View of the caravan and site in the morning. All pictures below taken on the three days walking from Langres to Besancon.

Back on the road

Back on line but no photos as my battery charger has bust. I got the flight to Italy after a day in Geneva which was an expensive city. It's got a nice lake and mountains but so has Bala and they don't charge three quid for one boule of ice-cream there. Anyway, at 23.00 in Bridisi they confirmed that 4 bits of luggage were missing, mine included and I'd left my drugs in the bag. There was then the very Italian scene of people shouting and arm waving to the extent that one passenger was ejected from the airport. Come back at 6.00 was the message. Spent the night in the Yaris in the carprk and went back and the very helpful staff had found my bag. It had been put in the customs room for checking the next day because it came from outside Italy, but nobody had told the passengers. Two minutes and I had my bag and then spent half an hour talking about my trip as they had seen the walking stick ( you can't hide much from the Italian customs); All very Italian. Had a superb week, mostly on the beach or eating beside the beach. Did a few things like sort the garden, got my blood tests done and had a haircut (tutto molto corto is what I asked for and got). Very unhappy to leave Jill.

Got back on the road with a disastrous day from Langres to Champlitte. Had to do 38k as there was no accom between the two. Unfortunatley it was also a holiday so when I got there the three hotels, the mairie and the Tourist Info were all shut. This was all the worse as I'd left my camping stuff with Jill as I'd hardly used it and it was heavy. I went to the camp site in the hope that they might rent mobiles. There was a seasonal opening party going on and no they did not. However I could stay with them. I didn't know what this meant but I styed put and they did some food (and wine) for me. As the party broke up they told me they had a spare caravan. Happy or what.

After what was looking like a low point the week has been great. The walking is great. Lots of villages with bridges and picnic gardens alongside, huge wash-houses in which to shelter from the sun and the feet and body taking it all-even after the marathon on Monday. The towns are feeling the crunch though and there are lots of closed shops and hotels and old houses which are falling down in the literal sense. The accom I've found has been the best in France. Waking up in the campsite was a dream. Tuesday was in a C16 house with my own terrace. Wednesday was a hotel which not only has an outdoor pool but I was on my own in the pool for three hours. I checked into the Ch d'H last night and again they had a little pool. This is pilgrimage de luxe and I'm feelong a bit guilty about it. I had dinner with the people in the last place on my own and they were great; interecting and very funny. I'm in the YHA in Besabcon for two nights but even there I have my own room and all for 20 eu per night including breakfast.

Re-reading this it looks as if all the people I' ve met have been wonderful. To add a touch of realism I'd like to send loud Harry Secombe rasberries to a) the people in the bar on Monday who were too tied up in tennis and cards to even try to help and b) the manager of the supermarket in Gy who wanted me to show what was in my bag to mae sure I'd not nicked some cold ham. It may be company policy but Intermarche know where to stick their Musketeers now. Sorry, forgot to mention the lovely couple who gave me a seat and some iced water and a glass of rose at about the 24km mark on Monday. Treasures. Also the two young ladies who gave me a lift from Langres station saving me a hot 30 mins climbing the hill (no taxis or buses on Sunday) and all the people at the campesite party for being so welcoming.

I hope to post the pictures to go along with the narrative tomorrow when I get the batteries re-charged.

I'm now looking forward to the Jura which is the range of mountains between France and Switzerland.