Ouch!

Or, how to make every bone in your body ache in three easy lessons! I mentioned in my last post that most (though not all) of my activities started up again last Monday, so I had Monday morning yoga followed by Tuesday afternoon yoga (with my neighbour - who was delighted to be starting back up again) and that was when Sylvie, who takes both classes with me, asked if I wanted to go walking with her on Thursday, as she had a free day in her schedule. She looks after children after school, helps with homework, gives extra tuition (she used to be a teacher) and does drop off and pick up on school days - so as you can see she's an absolute treasure for working parents! Things being as they are at the moment, her schedule is all over the place so I knew if I wanted to go walking with her it would have to align with her schedule rather than mine. So I said let's go for it!

As I drove through the village of Saint Laurent to meet her this morning, I saw that in the small, newly-built apartment building opposite the Mairie there is now an artisan baker's also. I think that's a masterpiece of a business plan because it's also directly opposite the village school so I imagine they will do a roaring trade. It's kinda sad, in a way, for the little baker's that has been in the village for many, many years. It's a stunning place - exactly how you would picture it - set up off the road in a quaint little building at the foot of the mountains. I've known the owners for over 30 years so I sincerely hope there is room in the village for two bakers!

Sylvie was born and raised in this area and offered to take me on a relatively easy hike (a word to the wise, never take the word of a local when they say "relatively easy") up to a place called Plaine Joux, about 30 minutes from here (and just 20 minutes from Jordan and Jen's place). Obviously anywhere round here you've got to climb a little so in reality it probably wasn't that bad, but I still had a hard time of it for the first 30 minutes or so - although the heat and trying to talk and walk at the same time probably didn't help either. We made our way round a circuit which took two-and-a-half hours and oh were there some lovely chalets up there. Really old and weather-beaten, but they all had the most beautiful displays of flowers - they were just stunning. I tell ya, if you wanted to cut yourself off from most of civilization, that's the place to be (in the summer at least - in winter they have cross-country and downhill skiing up there). But it really was just lovely!

Pointe des Brasses

Looking toward the Môle, where Jordan and Jen live!

Wild horses!

Not so wild cows!

On the way back down!

By the time I got home I realized I'd put in 20,000 steps today and boy do I know it! I've also just washed my face and pulled my hair back and see that I've got a rather fetching bright red face to boot!

I read in the British press yesterday about an 80-year old hiker who had been out walking on the Yorkshire moors with friends when he got separated from them during a hail storm (yep, that's England in summer for you). He was apparently stuck on the moors for three nights, while search and rescue teams were out looking for him! But, he has just made his way back to civilization, unharmed apart from a bump on his head and a desire for a pint and something to eat! As he explained on the news, he was well-equipped and well trained so he knew exactly what he had to do. He found shelter, pitched his tent and stuck it out until the weather cleared enough for him to make his way down. Compare that to me hiking half the time in flip-flops and ending up with a burnt face, I think I've got a lot to learn don't you!

Harry Harvey - made it back safe and sound after spending
three nights on the Yorkshire moors!

And yesterday I felt I had to put my money where my mouth was and go to my first try-out at the gym I've just signed up for. I ended up being one of just two people using the machines on the first floor, which is good as it gave me time to walk through each machine and try them all out. I have my session with the coach next week, but even so it was good to have some time to get my bearings. I'm also going to try to go tomorrow as I want to have a full week of it to see how it feels, but right now I think a hot shower and an early night is probably as much as I can manage at the moment!