Friday 7 August - A quieter day - still at Arsine

After discussing yesterday's events over another excellent supper at Du Pas de l'Ane, we concluded that we had done the right thing in turning back on a tricky rock face with probably two hours of unknown climbing ahead. Nevertheless, we had achieved a good altitude and walked well for six hours - we were not too down in the dumps.

After giving the van a wash and brush up in the morning, we regrouped by M1 riding down the valley to Lac du Chambon so that he could say that he had ridden the Lauteret to complete the climb he made a few days ago while M2 went for a brisk walk/jog down to La Grave arranging to meet for a light lunch at Le Bec de l'Homme in the main square at Villar. The lunch was very nice indeed and wonderfully cheap as well as briskly and efficiently served. While M1 waited before McD arrived, he was fully employed in helping others fill their water bottles from the adjacent fountain spring which was just out of reach for most. The other amusing feature seen was a small runt of a terrier trying to mount a much larger bitch who was on heat. The terrier lived up to his name in terms of the time and effort he put in but, as far as is known, he was unfulfilled especially after falling into the water under the fountain!

The afternoon was taken over by domestics with little further to report. We have wish to leave this beautiful place just yet but we are now realising that we are nearing the end of this terrific experience. We have earmarked Tue 25 August to repatriate to UK and rejoin our families who have allowed us to embark on this adventure. Places on the agenda after Ann's visit next week are: the Alsace (Philip Bambury ex colleague of M1's from MoD and his wife Renate), Verdun (a tragic battle for the French in 1916), hopefully Epernay for a visit to the Bollinger estate, Luxembourg to view the ancestral home of one of McD's friends from Prestbury, Waterloo of course then the WW1 battlefields of the Somme, Paschendale and Arras. A sobering final phase but with some more pleasant interludes along the way.