New modelling career?

The following day we headed to Vallouise to be models for the day in a shoot for an outdoor catalogue for a UK company. Typical, after all those warm days, it was bloody freezing, perfect conditions for hanging around outside!! I lost count of the amount of jackets we modelled, everywhere from frozen lakes and ski pistes to little alpine villages. It was much harder work than expected so don’t think I’ll be making a career out of it.

The incredible journey

So after a quick visit to London for work it was off to Sheffield to collect the dog and take him back to France. Bailey isn’t into car journeys and spent 14 hours panting and shaking his way down to the Ecrins.

Italian footballers and handling strikes

It is starting to get super cold and snowy here so I was very much looking forward to a few days cragging with my pal Adam in sunny Spain. Got to airport and checked in at 10am, super excited.
At the boarding gate café I was suddenly inundated with male attention from the Juventus football team, flying out for their champions league efforts. Apparently the best goalkeeper in the world (Gianluigi Buffon) offered to buy me coffee. I kindly declined and got stuck into my book ready to board.
Then it all went pear shaped…no sigbn of my flight and I was told to go back out through security. Well after 8 hours in the airport, quite a few glasses of vino with some new friends from the UK and Madrid all flights were cancelled due to handling strikes so no climbing by the beach for me. I would be gutted if I didn’t love my new home so much.

Great scrapheap in the sky

Returning from the Ardeche my trusty Punto was groaning a bit, we put it down to the excellent Italian build quality and drove on. Halfway home it finally died, gear box pouring out oil all over the road. Luckily we had a few days AA Europe membership left and they sorted us out. We were towed to a local garage within the hour, a pizza van was on hand outside (fantastic as we were starving and dreaming of pizza that evening), and a taxi was called to drive us over 100kms home. Definitely team lucky but not the Punto though. It will soon be relegated to the great scrapheap in the sky!

Sailing in the sunshine

The UK isn't all bad!

Driving through the night

After picking Adam up at Nice airport, we drove through the night singing our way to Verdon. It was all going so well until the DJ (DJing in the van is a ‘blue job’) put on a cover George Michael’s Faith by Limp Bizkit. I did consider leaving him right there by the road side but that would be a bit harsh. We parked up at the top of the Gorge for an amazing wild camp and great breakfast.

Sweet

Back in my spiritual home - Verdon!

What the papers say...

Well quite a lot about us this morning. It is amazing what you'll do for free Pastis at lunchtime!!

In search of Johnny Depp

I've retreated to my Mum's house in the south of France for good food, wine, puppy love, some washing and a chance to see the man himself who lives nearby (not that I'm bothered). My Mum supplied a good map of the area, she has also apparently done a recce to try and find where his house actually is! I trotted off on my run this morning hopeful of getting lost and knocking on the right door for directions...
So far nada, but I still have tomorrow and can run further if needs be!!

Canyoning and a long recce

My first canyon experience, a bit like being at a water park really but without all the man-made plastic and chaffing. Loved it, although some of the jumps were a little scary and I managed to keep opening my mouth just before hitting the water so I could have a good choke! After our morning in the canyon we went up to Glacier Noir in the mountains to recce a 22 pitch route we want to climb next week.
And what a recce – over 6 hours in total and still didn’t manage to find the base of the route!! The location feels really remote and super beautiful. Shame about the loaded snow slabs high up and the constant rock fall but it is that time of year I guess. Got a few good bivvi spots sorted, just need to locate some bolts.
After bouldering about at the base of the crag in our runners to avoid all the snow and ice (no crampons and axes) we decided to give up the search and get some advice in the valley. The line of the climb looks incredible, if we get some good advice we’ll be back for it.

Chilling in Italy

After our big day out, we went to Italy for some chilled out cragging followed by pizza and ice cream. Great day!

Fitness training with the wonder dog

I think the dog needs it more than me at the moment, we had to stop after just 2 laps of our local hill as he was lagging behind me!! I guess being black and furry and having to run fast uphill probably isn't the best on super hot days.

Via Ferrata action in Valloire

Perfecting our bridging skills.

The ultimate muscle van

Being overtaken by a 2CV!

The BBQ, the bacon and the cheese toastie

Had a wonderful few days relaxing (and climbing a little) in the Lakes with pals.

After a fabulous BBQ with Kirsty, Rob, Emily, Elliott, Tolly & Bailey. It was bacon sarnies the next morning in Ambleside car park with Rosie & Mark. Having spent all my cash in the car park staring at strangers pass by and waiting for the drizzle to subside we moved to Keswick in the hope of climbing something. Shepherd's Crag never disappoints (although the cheese and onion toastie at the farm did). We managed to get an HVS route in each although some much more elegantly than others. The crazy fool that weighted the sling balanced over a rounded hump in desperation - you know who you are! 

Erm...that'll be me then.

Easter Bunny survives big bad wolf in woods shocker!

Today whilst out in the woods a curious incident took place between prey and predator. Bailey found a baby rabbit sitting in broad daylight on top of its burrow and instead of running back down to safety when it saw him approaching, it took the 'play dead' or some might say stupid approach and just sat there blinking! Wolf and bunny now nose to nose...

Bailey carefully picked up dear bunny in his mouth but luckily he isn't in touch with his inner wolf. He hadn't quite worked out that this tasty morsel was indeed edible and placed it back down again. Bunny rabbit reaction - nada! Just continued to sit there and stare back. One flying stick later and the wolf (well hardly) was seen off. Bunny rabbit reaction - nothing, just sat there. I decided to coax it along, just to make sure it could actually move and it just hopped casually back down into the burrow.
So the Easter Bunny lives on but not for much longer if he carries on like that!

Mylo and Peanut pack for Iceland

They're unsure how many bones to take and wonder whether it's too dangerous as they just heard Icelanders like to eat hot dogs at service stations!

Van warming

I'm now the proud owner of a superb van (hate the word motorhome). Jake is awesome but needed testing so with the help of some friends we tried out all the facilities. After trying to negotiate a tricky driveway at night we gave up and had a few drinks and snacks in the van where he stood. Thanks to Rob for his patience in directing a girlie driver with no reversing skills whatsoever! 

After an overnight stop in the Lakes we were off up to Scotland. Judi and I camped at Loch Morlich and woke up with the ducks. Happy days!