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):-