A: 1 to 17 July - UK

It took a few days to settle into the swing of things and catch up with relatives and friends. A friend of Alison came up from London to join us and apparently to watch Wimbledon on TV. It was good to have more time on our hands. Our previous trips to Edinburgh had been a bit rushed. We discovered a nice way into the city was a walk alongside the canal.

We tried to impress our hosts by emulating one of the dishes we had learnt at Roanne. They were certainly impressed by the enormous amount of preparation time it took and the amount of wine consumed during same.

We picked up a hire car in the city so we would not be so dependent on the goodwill of our hosts. A manual with no handbrake and lights and wipers that come on automatically - what next?

I took a trip out to the Red Moss at Balerno just outside Edinburgh. This is an impressive area of raised peat bog surviving only by very regular rain. There were a variety of mosses of various colours, but certainly some was red.

I headed off to the Wirral to have a few beers (too many sadly) with old friends - one visiting from Canada. I drove down via the North York moors hoping to get a short hike in. Weather was wet and foggy and I didn't bother stopping, though some of the views during the drive were spectacular.

I then stayed with my sister nr Manchester and Alison came down by train and I met her at Manchester Piccadilly for a pleasant lunch and a walkabout taking in the Irwell and the "Peoples Museum".

During the next few days we visited my now no-so-young uncles and aunts and found out about their various illnesses. These are the things in store for us I guess. It was nice seeing them and I hope they recover.

On Thur 15 July we left on an evening flight for Sydney with a 3 hour break in Abu Dhabi - time for a shower and browse the local papers - there are a few in English. We arrived back home Saturday am to settle into a long period of recovery from jet-lag and sorting out photographs etc.

All-in-all a great holiday and lots of memories to reminisce over.

Red Moss:

Castle viewed from Grassmarket.

Boatshed on canal.

THE END

B: 27 to 30 June Champex-Lac & Lyon

We spent an enjoyable 3 days relaxing (which meant more walking) with friends in Champex-Lac. The drive from Chamonix took us through a couple of places we recognised from walking the TMB. AMB's knee is now recovering and the walking helped a little.

Champex-Lac is a great place to relax after the TMB. It is used by many as the start/finish point. We were very pleased to have done the trek. It really is one of the classic walks and doing it "in comfort" with top food and accomodation certainly capped it off. We had also been lucky with the weather, - if we had started a week earlier we would have worn wet weather gear for the whole walk and not seen too much.

We did head up into the mountains around the Champex-Lac region and came across more marmots in the "Environmental Valley".

On 29 June we headed to Lyon and put up in a hotel for one night with dinner out in Vieux Lyon. It was hot and a bit tiring pounding the streets doing a bit of sight-seeing. Next day we drove up to the Basilica (our legs were on strike) and had a brief look around and lunch before heading out to the airport to take an Easyjet flight to Edinburgh. It was pleasantly cooler (no surprise) on arrival with nice in-law waiting with car to take us to our next temporary abode.

Some views in valley near Champex-Lac.

More Gnomes from Zurich, they appear to have lost their ball.

View from Basilica in Lyon

View from AMB's seat.

Rhone river, Lyon.

Night view from apartment in Champex-Lac.

C: 26 June: Les Contamines to Les Houches LAST DAY

Pictures are a bit out of order.

This was a relatively short day. We had a break near a glacier on the side of Mont Blanc then we passed over the Col de Voza which is not so high as the others we had passed through.

We headed down to the top of the Telepherique (cable car) at Les Houches were we were joined by AMB (knee still crook). We had our last lunch there and then took the easy option down in the cable car. Most people had their cars waiting in the free parking lot. We said our final goodbyes and did our "faire le bise" thing and took a taxi to Chamonix to collect a hire car.

Our plan was to visit friends at Champex-Lac in Switzerland for 3 days.

D: 25 June: Les Chapieux to Les Contamines

AMB's knee had swollen and she had to go with the baggage today, she however saw some great mountain scenery in the drive around to the next valley.

We headed up to the Refuge de Bonhomme where there was a wildlife research station and we could take on water. Then a short way on to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme and lots more snow. It was hot walking in the sun but our feet were cool.

A bus took us from the parking lot at Les Contamines to our accommodation and I was even able to get to an ATM.

The toilets up here are well ventilated and have a fantastic view:

E: 24 June: Courmayeur to Les Chapieux

Very long day's walk today with some magnificent scenery, glaciers and rivers and views of Mont Blanc. Saw our 1st Marmots. AMB took a nasty fall and twisted her knee. She could still walk so no major drama.

We had intended to stay at the Refuge des Mottets but there was insufficient space for all so we were taken on to Les Chapieux. The accommodation here was a bit limited but we scored a nice private room (being the only couple) the others had the bunk room. Nevertheless another great dinner was served.

Mont Blanc (Brenva Face):-