Category: Summer 2016

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Pantry progress

In no particular order; we have been foraging for mushrooms, made progress in the pantry and eaten loads of delicious food.

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project

Wall Building

Wall building

A couple of years ago was the fortress wall building event with Clive. After that we decided that we would like to continue the wall on a lower level around to the back of the outbuilding, not such a megga project but still quite a lot of shifting of materials.

We had asked Clive to lend us a hand who is excellent at this sort of work and many hands make light work as such.

We had a lack of rocks but luckily Rene and Anouk had a stash from a wall they had dismantled so lots of trips down to the auberge with the trailer recuperating them made sure we had plenty to do the job, along with 16 bags of cement. We had planned 3 straight days but as the sand delivery never arrived this became staggered days which actually suited us better. We were all in one piece at the end of the wall unlike last time when we were all booked in to see the local osteo in the village!

Pre Clive’s arrival we had got the foundation dug out so all ready to go with building once he turned up for work.

Monday saw the foundation going in and we used up the rest of the sand we had to get a few layers up. Whilst the boys were doing the reinforcement I jumped on the bike and zoomed to the Auberge to order some more sand from a different supplier. Due now on Thurs pm so means we will then work Friday and the following Monday to finish it off.

As with all these things routine speeds things up, Clive building, Al mixing and me ferrying buckets of water and rocks to the right people as well as bringing sand up from by the river.

We are thrilled with the wall which is now finished except we need a lot of back filling  before we can get some decent soil on top of it and then chuck some grass seed at it so we will have a nice green flat terrace area.

The wall has some stone steps built into it too plus some holes for some flowers to hang over and cover the wall with some colour.

 

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project

Wild Camping Fun

Wild camping

One of the things we had wanted to do this year was use the little tent and go and do some explores with it. So Saturday and Sunday the forecast was for yet more sunshine. I am totally loving this sun sun sun! So we decided we would go for 2 days away and an over night camp. Got some ideas from Lee and made some plans after perusing over maps. We wanted a couple of hours walk in on the first day and then do a peak or 2 the next day, plus a good place to camp.

Breakfast

Egg Hopper and wild mushrooms

Spent the morning getting kit ready after an egg hopper breakfast. Bags a tad large and heavy with tent, stove, sleeping bags, roll mats, fuel Dad’s ration packs etc etc etc.

We decided to go up to just beyond Guzet the ski area and park and then start from there.

We trundled up the Turguilla Valley past a few lakes before finding the most gorgeous camping spot at Etang de Reglisse at the far end of the lake, view resembling that of an infinity swimming pool.

It was a hot climb up so I was tempted with a swim and it was definitely warmer than the river.

We set up camp, chatted, played cards, did crosswords and took lots of photos of the stunning area and the sunset. Very romantic setting and no wind so we sat in shorts and T shirts till the sun went down at 845pm! Fuelled with Westler Ration packs which worked a treat hassle free.

The nights kip was fitful with lots of animal noises close by!

We woke to glorious sunshine yet again and had brekky by the lake before packing up and heading up to the Spanish border.

Plan was to climb Pic de Turguilla and then follow the ridge line back to Pic de Seron before looping back down to Billy Boy.

A nice hike up to Pic de Turguilla and great views of Pointe de Rabassere too, another one to do another time. Looking over into Spain and once again trying to piece together the skyline. We then descended steadily down following the ridge initially before finding our own way rock hopping up to the col and finally up to Pic de Seron. A lot of boulder hopping.

Lunch at the top no wind and great views.

Lee who has climbed most of the peaks around this area had mentioned that there was a way off the top to the north so we decided to try and do this to make it a loop rather than back tracking. Lots of boulders initially, then onto slippy grass and more rocks, following the cairns made lie slightly easier. Steep descent and hard going on the knees but it brought us back to the van in 1.5 hours from the top and made a lovely end to our little wild camping trip.

Totally lucked out with the weather it was perfecto.

 

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Paella Feast

paella

During the wall building days we had been invited to Raegans Paella Feast in the Cabane de la Chase About a dozen of us there and Raegan’s father was Spanish so he knows how to make a great paella.

Aperos at midday whilst Raegan sorted out the paella with so many goodies in it truly delicious, chicken, prawns, squid, mussels, clams. ENORMOUS and enough to feed 30! not to forget nibbles before and cheese afterwards. Back just in time for the sand delivery and that meant time to work off the paella with lots of trips up the hill with the sand so that we had enough in stock for Friday. We took it in turns with 2 trips up the hill each and then swapping. An hour and we were about sorted.

 

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project

Pujada Spain Meets France Fiesta

Pujada

The Pujada happens every year when lots of Spanish and French folk trundle up to Port de Salau for exchanging of presents, singing and dancing and really just an excuse for a party. We have been once before quite a few years ago but decided as the weather was lovely to go up.

About 400 folk made it to the col. The Spaniards have a 30 minute walk up and the French more like 3 hours! But a great turnout. Al and I had a speedy yomp up there in 2 hours and sat up there watching all the activities having our lunch for about an hour. Coolish wind so we then trundled back down and still had time to do a few chores before having a glass of rose in the sun.

 

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Trip to Cornwall

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Wedding night sunset

Breezy and I were fortunate enough to receive an invitation to a skiing friend’s wedding in Cornwall.  Simon and Lucy have been coming out to the chalet in Chamonix for about 5 years now.  We managed to drop off the van in Toulouse with Alison and Peter who have a house in Salau for a week and flew into Bristol. The wedding was in St Mawes and B&Bs were really expensive so we found Quirky Campers in Bristol and rented Bella, one of their campervans.

Bella is fantastic, built n a Mercedes Sprinter, she is fully equipped and gave us complete flexibility over where we stayed. The Quirky team are also super flexible and we managed to get a Tuesday to Tuesday booking.

The trip started with a stay in Teignmouth with Nicole and Nick who visited us last summer. Then backtracking to Exeter to see an old school friend of mine, Mike and his wife Pearl. From there we headed over to Widemouth to see another skiing friend Judy who happened to be in Cornwall for a couple of days.  On the way over to St Mawes we stayed in Mevavissey in a very soulless carpark. Fi came over for supper in Bella and we met up again the next morning to walk some of the coastal path.

Last destination was St Mawes where we managed to camp at the castle where the wedding was to be held.  Merely 80m from the marquee we definitely had the shortest trip home.  Friday evening was hosted by Lucy’s parents at their house in the town and then we went for a walk before the wedding on the Saturday (and a shower at Fi’s B&B).

The wedding was fabulous. Having met some of the guests the night before at Lucy’s parents made a huge difference. The Castle was a brilliant venu and both the bride and groom looked amazing. The sun shone and they had a brilliant jazz band in the grounds for the drinks reception after the ceremony. The meal was in a marquee in the grounds and the food was scrummy – good job there was some boogying later to dance it all off. Lucy’s Father delivered one of the best speaches I have ever heard which had us laughing and crying at different times. He had obviously put a great deal of thought to it. Oh, and there was an awesome sunset too which changed with every passing minute to top it all off!

Sunday evening we headed north again to just shy of Bristol, then met up with old friends Linnit and Kate in Bristol on the Monday before flying back to Toulouse.

A fairly tiring week in all meeting loads of people and travelling (all be it slowly) around the South West. Thank you all for sparing us the time and use of your showers.

 

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A weekend of little jobs

pantry cupboard

egg hopperJust a couple of pictures from the weekend before heading to Cornwall.  When in Sri Lanka we had “egg hoppers” for breakfast. These are a sort of pancake basket made with coconut batter with an egg dropped in and then steamed. We found a pan for making them and so thought that we would treat ourselves occasionally.  Here is our first effort, and jolly nice it was too.

pantry cupboardThe one thing that we wanted to get finished before leaving was the pantry cupboards.  Made with the carcass of an old kitchen unit we knocked it about a bit, set it on a plinth and then started to clad it with pallet wood. This picture is in the making but the finished thing will be posted later. We did finish it bar the door handles.

 

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project

ROCKS!

Wall foundations

So since Scotty’s visit we have been doing lots of bits and pieces. One of the main jobs to get done before Cornwall is to get enough rocks for the wall we are planning to build with Clive on our return. Rene and Anouk said we can take the rocks that have been stacked outside theirs so this has involved lots of trips down with the trailer until the trailer’s axle broke! Again Rene and Anouk to the rescue with letting us borrow their trailer. It has been hot work which is fine but the pesky horse flies have been out in force so there has not been much hanging about! Anyway all rocks up and semi ordered now and looking like we may just have enough with a few more stashes from around the barn.

Also we were keen to get a foundation dug for the wall which we have roughly achieved now so almost set for beginning the wall just need a sand delivery and get that up the hill and we are off!

Lots of fruit ripe for picking so gooseberry and Rhubarb Jam, Red Currant Jelly, Black Currant Jam all been made for the winter guests.

Al recuperated some Oak Cupboard doors a long time ago and had in mind to create a large mirror for the pantry. The enormous mirror from the ghetto apartment when we re-vamped the place was used. Managed to get it cut in half to fit both sides and then a bit of mixing and matching and we have a great mirror for the pantry, just waiting to hang it depending on where units all end up. Looks really good though.

We are lacking reading lamps upstairs for the main sofa so we have started to sort this out. A couple of spots being sorted into the beams, Al sorting the electrics for that and should make a huge difference come autumn time when we are inside at night more frequently.

Apart from that lots of yummy food as always, red mullet, cod with chorizzo lentils, Smoked mackerel salad with walnut and citrus dressing, Sri Lankan curried chicken and hopefully egg hoppers by the end of the week end!

 

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project

Refuge D’Araing and Pic de Crabere

View of Refuge

With such a great forecast we decided to head off into the hills for 2 days and booked into a refuge for a night. We had a superb time, not a cloud in the sky at all and 90 degrees plus the whole time so it was nice to be up high.

We started up from Eylie and had a steep climb up through the woods following the GR10. It then opened out with stunning views and also passing all the old mines on the way up to the Col on the Serre D’Araing where we sat for an hour and had our lunch looking down on the lake, refuge and seeing Pic de Crabere which was our goal the next day. We decided not to go to Pic de L’Har which was another 45 mins on as it was too flipping hot! So instead down to the refuge for lots of cold water, cards and a couple of glasses of wine in the sun.

A lovely little refuge and we even had a concert playing for 30 mins before dinner. Excellent fodder and bed early with our 8 fellow dorm buddies none of whom snored which was a total bonus so a reasonable nights kip.

Up early the next day and we climbed up to Pic de Crabere in under 1.5 hours and had the place to ourselves. Maps out at the top trying to piece together the skyline and just enjoying the view before tackling the 1700m descent always a killer on the knees. We had a stop at the refuge before looping around via Col des Cos where we had lunch and then the final steep descent to Billy Boy. A river at the bottom so I flopped into that and Al soaked his feet!

A really lovely loop and we both felt recharged although slightly pooped too with the heat.

Back via St G, for washing, food and then a quick drink at the auberge before a lovely smoked trout and prawns salad on the front terrace in shorts and T shirts as still boiling hot.

 

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Scotty and Famille To Stay

Cirque D'Anglade

Scotty, Andy and the gang all arrived on Sunday after lunch, in sweltering heat they walked up the piste to us. It was fabulous to see them and for them to make the effort to come and find us on their hols in the SW of France. Beaches to mountains.

After a wander around the barn and cold beers, the river called for most of us….Al declined not liking cold water. Kids loved it just deep enough for them to dip and play in. Refreshing to say the least.

Drinks on the helipad bubbles and nibbles went down well in the sun.

We were hoping to have dinner outside but the storm clouds blew in so the paella welcome meal ended up being inside. Although we did manage rummikub on the terrace with the kids whilst Al cooked his delicious paella we then went inside to eat it and have some cheeses too.

Brekky on the terrace but the cloud was coming in again so after doing the usual chores in the am we sent the kids off on a treasure hunt we had made for them exploring the grounds as such, using a compass, learning some French and climbing the totem pole at the end to get their prizes. We did have a stop mid way as the thunder roared!!!!

The planned picnic we had made turned into an indoor picnic and then we decided to brave the elements and headed up to the Cirque D’Anglade, Fiona and Wee Patrick were amazing and ran up the hill quite a lot of hurrumphing from Hamish as Scotty dragged him up to the top! We arrived out of the clouds into glorious sunshine which was perfect so we could wander up to the snow, have snacks build dams etc and look down on the mist.

On the way back down we found some chanterelles for an amuse buche for dinner.

Drinks down at the Auberge and ice creams for the kids before retiring back to the barn for the BBQ and again indoor eating as it was mizzle and drizzle. Fire lit, rummikub to play, salads to prepare and then lots of yummy food, marinaded duck in 5 spice was delicious. Late night for us as we retired to the outbuilding at 12.30pm maybe with a few too many glasses of wine consumed too!!!!

Scotty and gang packed up but we managed a quick walk up to the waterfall before we dropped them at the end of the piste and said our au revoirs.

LOVED having you all to stay. Having a few days of healthy eating and no booze now to recover!

 

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project