Nothing like a nice relaxed trip to the alps. After many
years if slumming it around the campsites of Europe, this year time to do it in
style!
We set off driving south through the typical traffic jams of
southern England, we arrived in Dover just in time for Tamsin to be attacked by
a seagull waiting for the ferry. We set off for our B&B in Calais, waking
up refreshed for trucking through the pouring rain of northern France.
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| Motoring on through the rain Photo: Nicola Crangle |
Fortunately, as we climbed the pass out of Italy into
Montgenevre, the sun came out and there it stayed for the rest of the glorious
week. This is exactly why I love the French Alps! As we truned into the village
of Les Alberts, we got our first views of our accomdation for the week. I could
not have been more impressed, we were staying in a Palace!
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| Our Palace for the week Photo: Steve Martin |
Somehow I managed to blag the Master bedroom, with a
bathroom that was bigger than my lounge at home. And a view from the roll top
bath that took in the CLaree valley I knew we were in for a top week.
Levels were not particularly high, but most of the classics
were still going. On the first day we even caught up with some familiar ICCC
faces on the first day of summer tour. We paddled all the usual runs from the
sunshine run to the lower Guisane (no black eyes this year). I made everyone go
to the Briancon gorge after the one night it rained, unfortunaltey there wasn’t
really enough water but it was very scenic anyway!
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| Briancon gorge Low but awesome Photo: Steve Gibson |
Towards the end of the week we went over to the Guil valley
to paddle all the best sections. I wussed out of Chateaux Q again. Gotta leave
something for next time. I took one cheeky swim on the Staricase rapid, but
otherwise a good run.
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| Romanche (I think), Photo: Steve Gibson |
On the last day, we headed over to the Romanche, I’ve never
actually got all the way to the bottom of this section. I was pretty pleased
with myself getting all the way to the end, with only one roll on the crux
rapid. We stopped on an high Alpine meadow on the way back over before a final
blast down the lower Guisane.
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| High Alpine Lunch, photo: Steve Martin |
Great relaxed week paddling some classics thanks Steve and
Tamsin for organising!
