Busy doing nothing!

Posted on 05/08/2012 by Christine

This morning we decided to go to Colico, which is North East side of the Lake. so after walking the dogs, we were out on Pinky and Perky again.  The roads were still very tiny, with the villages on a traffic light system.  We stopped to get some petrol, but of course it was Sunday and everything was shut, we thought no problem, we can use our card, and fill up, but no, still everything is cash, well we had a 20 Euro note, but that was too big for my little thing, so we had to wait to get some change.

Campsite at Lenno

The reason we went to Calico was because there is a campsite there, and it was easier to look at it on the bikes, then take Rosie, and not like it. After many tunnels, and tiny villages, and about 45 kilometres, we found the site, well I did not like it one bit, although they had a beach across the road, and a nice cafe, we have decided to stay where we are.

Back on the bikes, we managed to fill up with 5 Euros of fuel, then back to Rosie, where we had some lunch, then went for a walk down to the lake.

When we arrived, there were lots of little stalls, selling beefburgers, cakes, etc., there

Regaté Day

was a   regaté going on, the boats are really strange here, and I am sure they have a proper name, but they take two rowers, standing up, facing forward, it looks like hard work to me.  They were having club  races, everyone was enjoying themselves.

Kids having fun!!

Sooty and Bella were doing their normal things, although not to be outdone, Bella is also diving under water and collecting stones, this looks really funny, on one occasion she picked up a really big stone, how she managed to get it out, I will never know.

Back home we opened a bottle of bubbly, and had some salmon, I like this retirement business, it is hard work but worth the effort.

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Lenno Lake Como

Posted on 04/08/2012 by Christine

Up and out walking the dogs, after another stormy night, thunder and lightning, hate it when it is like that, not sure how well insulated the van is. Still we survived another night, and Bella had to have another cuddle.

View of Lake Como

We managed to leave the site by 9.15am having had breakfast,

we have about 80 miles to go, which is not far, but some of the roads are so tiny, they had traffic lights on both ends of the village, and only one way could go at a time, it was very tight even then, we clipped the mirror of a lorry that was parked on the side, and coaches and us struggled past cyclist, very nerve wrecking, glad I was not driving.  Geoff does very well, weaving around these

Views of the Lake

narrow lanes, I just try to sit and be quiet!!

We eventually arrived at the site, and found our spot, to be told we could not go there, as it was promised for someone else, so we had to move, but tomorrow we are going back, it is a better spot, plus we have the shade of the trees, which we have not got now.  It is 39 degrees outside, and when we plugged in the air-conditioning, it kept blowing the fuse, so hopping tomorrow not so many on one plug. Apparently they have the electricity set, so that it keeps the van running, but nothing else, so no iron, no hair dryer etc.,

Sooty enjoying the Lake

Geoff took me out to lunch at the site, we had meat platters with parmesan cheese, that was lovely, good to relax, we took the dogs for a wander along the lake, and as soon as Bella saw the water she was in again.

Lake Como is lovely, I just wish Jane had been able to join us, it is amazing scenery, the mountains contrasting with the lake, with lots of things going on.  We walked along side the lake, looking at the restaurants on the waterfront, we continued to a Hotel, which had a beach with lots of people swimming,it also had three sea planes, which

Sea Planes

we assume you could hire, we paddled and the dogs swam, Sooty showing everyone how clever he was diving for the stones.  On the way back we stopped at one of the lakeside café and had a drink, then we went into Lenno, which is where we are staying, a very tiny village, which has only a few shops.  The most important thing is a Bank, as everything is cash here, no cards, definitely a black economy.

Back at site, we changed, then went for dinner, we had a chateaubriand, which was amazing, cooked to perfection, this site is family run, and the lady in charge is out to make as much money as possible (don’t blame her for that) but we were all a bit squashed, hopefully when we move, we will be better off.  Still not as bad as the South of France!

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Italy at last!

Posted on 02/08/2012 by Christine

We left after breakfast, had an easy trip to the Mont Blanc tunnel,( which is about 11km long), paid our 52 Euros one way, then had an easy run through, we were told that there

Views on route

was a three hour wait yesterday, but no problems today, we arrived the other end, to have to go into at least five other tunnels, think the Italians like doing tunnels! They were all fairly long, which meant we avoided the mountains, which was good, our engine is underpowered, so most of the time, we would have been in 2nd gear, so it was a pleasurable

Views on route

drive, the tolls were expensive, but I am more relaxed this way.

We have no knowledge of the Italian Aries, so we chose one, which is on route, if we have problems we would keep going, well with tom tom having all the information we had, we found the site very easily, and we are on a river bank with a weir. Incredibly noisy with all the water running, they also have a slalom course for the canoe’s to try to navigate.

Old Town’s Medievil Castle

The old town itself has a medieval castle and a 11th century cathedral, which we walked up to, it was at the very top of a hill (which pleased Geoff) the streets were all cobbled, and very narrow, with lots of houses, with room for one car only. Most of the town was banned from vehicles, which was nice.

We stopped and had a cup of tea, in one of the many squares, and later found a lovely ice-cream parlour, so we had to indulge!

Spot Rosie in the distance

Walked back along the banks of the river, another lovely town.

View from our campsite

 

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Taking stock……

Posted on 01/08/2012 by Christine

We had a quiet morning, changed the sheets, quick clean up, we watched the first gold on Television, by the two lady rowers, they did very well, yesterday was the first time we have been able to watch the Olympics, so today was special.

Sooty and I playing with the stones

Had some lunch, then I walked into the village with the dogs, Geoff drove down with Rosie, to get our wheel back, another 200 Euro’s, bad start to August, but glad we have a spare tyre back.  We nipped into supermarket, got some food, before we hopefully leave tomorrow.

Our view on site

Back at site, we have filled up with water, ready to leave, we hope to make Italy, so not sure when we will be back on internet.

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It’s an ill wind…..

Posted on 31/07/2012 by Christine

We are off to Italy today, how exciting is that, we have packed everything away, and had such a wonderful time here, we have enjoyed most places, but for me this is the winner so far. As we were leaving Geoff said we have a slow puncture, and as we are doing the Mont Blanc tunnel, a bit risky to go through, so we tried to find a garage, which we did, they could not speak English, Geoff managed to make him understand, but he could not change the wheel, so he called a breakdown truck, we had a cup of tea whilst waiting, and found the spare wheel, and when the man arrived we were waiting for him.  After a very short time, everything completed, we followed the guy to the garage to get tyre fixed.  Sadly it was not the tyre, but the wheel had a whole in it, so we have to wait for a replacement, cannot really travel so many miles without a spare wheel.

Rosie enjoying the view

We decided to find another site, which the garage recommended, and when we arrived we had another wow! moment, it is another Aries, but it has electricity, wifi, very clean and tidy, and a fantastic view of Mont Blanc, only takes 20 vans.

We sorted ourselves out, then took the dogs for a walk, at the

River Mont Blanc

end of the path, we found a river, which takes the water from Mont Blanc, we climbed down, to the river’s bottom, it is very low at present, but it is running really fast.  Sooty

Mont Blanc

and Bella were off again, running in and out of the river, and Sooty was picking up the stones, Geoff paddled his feet, so I did too, very cold though, another lovely place to come to.

Sooty enjoying the river

Lovely afternoon, only three vans here, so very peaceful, and we have television for the first time in ages, so we have been catching up with the Olympics.

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Our Magical Day Out

Posted on 30/07/2012 by Christine

Up early this morning, as we were advised that to go up in the cable car, it was better

Aiguille Du Midi cable car

to leave about 7am, so I walked the dogs, Geoff made the tea, breakfast was going to be taken on the top of the mountain, we did notice whilst we were drinking the tea, that the cable car had not moved, but we walked around the corner, to see this huge queue, and to find that they were having trouble with the electricity!!  We waited for thirty minutes, I was in the cable car queue, Geoff was in the queue for the tickets, we waited another half an hour, and still no movement, so we decided to go back via the bakers for breakfast. About 9am I took the dogs for a long walk in the woods, they had a good chase around, I

Aiguille Du Midi Car Park

then noticed the cable car had started to move, so when I got back we re-joined a queue, and waited for our turn, it did not take long, and because they were packing us in like sardines, (50 per car) we were soon heading up the mountain.  With a bit of skilful planning, we managed to get on first, instead of

Aiguille Du Midi

pushing in, we held back, and managed to stand right in the front, it was amazing.  We quickly rose to 2317m in the first

Aiguille Du Midi

cable car, and we had to transfer to another one, where we rose to 3842m, the top of Mont Blanc is 4810m. The scenery, was absolutely indescribable, all I could keep saying is WOW!!  The temperature was 15 degrees at the bottom, and 0 degrees at the top, we had been warned about this, and had dressed accordingly. When we approached the top, it seemed we were going to hit the side of the mountain, it was the scariest bit, and both Geoff and I were struggling for breath, it was a horrible feeling, but was not going to deter us at this point.

Wow! Just amazing

We had been advised to go on the Panoramic route, which goes over the top, and into Italy, so onto another cable car, this time, there was just four of us, and we happened to get another Welsh couple, so that was good.  We had to pay an extra 24 Euros for this trip, and it was worth all the money, and possibly

Amazing views from the top

more. How they have managed to build the cable cars up there we have no idea, but so glad they have.  It was so peaceful up there, and so magnificent, neither of us could think of words to describe it, the scenic route took about 45 minutes, you could just make out people camping in the snow, wouldn’t fancy that, but all seemed very happy, maybe 20 years ago!, A lot of people go up in the cars, and walk down, which is fine, if you have a guide with you, but

Crevices opening

dangerous.  There were huge crevices opening, in the glacier, guess that is where the snow is melting, but it was all just amazing.  When we came of this cable car, we were both feeling

Fabulous views

short of breath, I was feeling queasy as well, not sure if I was hungry, or the altitude, anyway we went and bought a roll and a drink, which seemed to help, although we still struggled to breath properly, obviously not fit!! We then did the return trip, well it just seemed to drop straight down, and we went through the clouds, which were funny, and down to the

Aiguille Du Midi

next level, where we entered the last cable car, what an experience, well worth the money, just for the scenery alone.

Back to ‘Rosie’ walk the dogs, then we had to go out again, we had bought a one day pass, which meant we could do other

Sooty and Geoff on the Mountain Train

trips, so we were going on Montenvers – Mer De Glace a gentle 1913m, we catch a mountain train, so we can take the dogs with us. Catch the free bus, and go to stop 18, which is the railway station, then over a bridge to another line, and onto the mountain train, it took us 20 minutes to get to the top, certainly not a patch on the other trip, but as it was all thrown in, we

Montenvers Mer De Glace

thought we would make the effort.  We caught the cable car with the dogs this time, to go down to the glaciers, but as

Glacier

there were 380 steps to go down and then come back we decided against it, as we had been in one in the morning. Once you have been on the Aiguilles Du Midi, everything else will seem tame, but we walked around, had a cup of tea and we shared another roll, and then caught the train and bus back. As we got off the bus, there was a beagle running loose, which was annoying Sooty, well Sooty grabbed his ear, and would not let it go, despite us shouting at him, anyway the owner apologized and we helped him catch his dog, Sooty is in disgrace for biting. Back at home, Geoff made me a lovely cuppa, and we just relaxed, oh boy a fantastic day to remember

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