Aperitif at 1674m

Last week my husband and I cycled up to partake of an aperitif up at the refuge de Gittamelon in the Vallée des Encombres.

Now when I say up I mean a 350m climb in 7kms, now this might not sound all that dramatic to you but most of the climb is done in 5kms and quite frankly I’d like to see you try it .......and this on the hottest day of the year so far. In fact half way up I was seriously questioning my sanity and in another km I was thinking of phoning the men in the white coats to see about a free ambulance ride down. I was irritable and fed-up with the relentless pedalling in the scorching heat of a totally uphill climb with no relief from any downhill free-wheeling at all.

“I’m going back” I said to my husband, “OK” he said “I understand, don’t blame you”. Huh? This was strange, who was this man? Whoever it was it couldn’t have been my husband as his support and encouragement usually runs along the lines of “stop moaning and start pedalling”. So, being completely baffled and wondering who I was cycling behind, there was nothing for it but to carry on! I made it.

Anyway, this week, being gluttons for punishment, we did it again .........

This time, however, we cycled up with friends Alison and Rob, Helen and Chris. The reason for all this frantic cycling is simple. We, TEAM (H)UG, the six of us, are all in training. Oh yes indeed, for a race known as le Cochet derby, which takes place at the end of August ..... 999m in 9kms from le Chaterlard to le Col de Fenetre. Last year we all entered and did it, well I use the word “did” in a lose sort of way as I never actually finished and in fact had to rescued along with my bike and carted off in a 4x4. In fact out of the 6 of us (the only Brits in the race) just three finished; Simon, Rob and Alison. And three didn’t, myself, Helen and Chris (Chris of course maintains he was keeping his wife company .... yeah right.) In fact we were the only non finishers .......

So we parked up near this lovely ski chalet for sale in St Martin, got our mountain bikes out and cycled across the river towards la Chatelard.

La Chatelard is situated at 1350m, about 1 minutes drive or 5 minutes cycle from St Martin de Belleville, and has the most wonderful views.

As we passed through this popular village we cycled past a building plot on which a 3 bedroom house is about to built, it will make a really great ski base for a lucky family (or even a good rental property).

The climb up to the refuge is relentless and it was scorching hot again but we pressed on passing the pretty little village of la Gittaz perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, so precariously in fact that the is no winter access; on past Planlebon situated below us at 1317m which we looked down on from 1625m before we made the final push arriving at the refuge at about 1700m where a cold and much needed drink awaited us. The refuge and indeed the village used to be inhabited all year, the residents cut off from the outside world for 6 months each year, incredible to think of it really. Now it is only lived in over the summer.

They keep goats here, making their own cheese, which give it an authentic and lovely feel of a mountain farm which indeed it is. Been there for 100’s of years and will no doubt still be there in a few more 100. If you fancy the farming life how about this lovely farm for sale which is ripe to be developed but slightly more conveniently located and right near a ski resort as well!

Talking of goats; during our last big cycle ride we encountered the coolest goat ever, what a dude! Whilst I was admiring him, Alison who is well known for her skill and grace when falling off a bike (after all she gets a lot of practise), was descending rapidly and out of control as her bike was sliding on the goat’s hay; she couldn’t find any grip at all. Finally she decided to bail out landing amongst the goats who were equally as surprised as she was. Her bike was still on the right side of the fence but she managed to crawl out under the fence before I could get a photo.

Damn.