Microadventure #7 - Climbing Col de la Joux Verte

A 'col' is another word for a mountain pass, and this month's microadventure was to climb one on my bike, coinciding with the Tour de France https://www.letour.fr/en/ 

Staying in the heart of Morzine in the French Alps, there were a lot to choose from, ranging in difficulty, altitude, distance and gradient. 

There are two sides to the Col de la Joux Verte - the better known southern route from Morzine to Avoriaz (known as Montée d'Avoriaz or Route d'Avoriaz) or the lesser known northern ascent - more beautiful, more varied and less busy. So we decided to go for that. Starting at the roundabout in the village of Montriond, the road climbs from 886 m through wooded areas and past the stunning Lake Montriond for a total of 14.7 km before finally reaching the col at 1760 m.

The average gradient was 6.5% and each km post tells you the gradient of the next km, which I found really helpful... until the middle sections rarely dipped below 9% and I would have rather just not known! Just as I was in the middle of one of those km, I saw a snail and reminded my competitive alter ego that it didn't matter how slow I went, just to KEEP PEDALING!

The scenery on the way up really was stunning, with Lake Montriond (where we swam the next day) and the village of Les Lindarets (aka GOAT VILLAGE) being highlights.

Lake Montriond

Swimming in Lake Montriond the next day

Meeting the goats at Les Lindarets

After Les Lindarets, there was a welcome 2 km respite at 5% before the final 2 km ramped back up to 8%. It then flattened out just before I arrived at the Morzine-Avoriaz ski station and then enjoyed the descent back down to Morzine.

Start of the descent from Morzine-Avoriaz Ski Station back down to Morzine

A couple of days (and cols, because climbing mountains actually starts to become 'fun'...) later, we went to watch the Tour heading up Col de Romme, and even made it on the telly! They make it look so easy...

The leaders of the peloton on Col de Romme

We made it onto TV!

Microadventure #6 - Jersey 'Round the Island' Challenge

This month's microadventure began when my plane to Jersey was diverted overnight to Southampton airport because of fog! But I finally landed the next morning in time for some carb loading, sleeping and gin 'hydrating' in my cousin Penny and Andrew's lovely garden.

Beautiful sunshine above the fog!

Clearer view the next day

With my sunbathing buddy, Doogle

With Mum (also visiting), Penny and her Mum Jenny in Penny and Andrew's garden

This time last year I had never even been to Jersey, but on Saturday I got to know every corner of the island as I walked and ran around its 77km coastline. If you want a speedier version of my 12.5 hour round-trip, you can do a quick circumnavigation (without the blisters and sore legs) here: https://www.relive.cc/view/1657179158

Over 1000 people signed up for the event - mostly walking, some running and some doing a mix of both like me. We started at 03:00 so did the first few km in the dark, but as it was only a couple of days after the summer solstice it wasn't long before we were treated to an amazing sunrise and the smell of freshly cooked bacon wafting over the hill as we approached St Catherine's for our first break.

The 03:00 start at St Helier

The procession of silhouettes rounding the south-east corner of the island

Approaching Mont Orgueil Castle in Gorey 

Sunrise at Anne Port

Bacon roll and coffee stop at St Catherine's 

Having walked the first 12km, my legs felt warm (but still fresh) enough to break into a gentle jog as we hit the undulating north coast.The ups and downs of the narrow coastal path were a welcome distraction to the monotony and relative flatness of the south-east. With the sun now up the views were incredible, and as long as I kept the sea to my right I knew I couldn't get lost!

While I was walking and running on my own, I wasn't ever really alone. Everyone was really friendly, so I joined other groups for a bit but also enjoyed the quietness of listening to my own breath, taking in the views and letting my thoughts wander. The beauty of a long challenge is there's no time pressure (or at least none that I gave myself), so I could just relax and really enjoy the experience. 

Long morning shadows

Stunning coastal paths

Half way point

Plémont

As I came off the coastal path in the north-west corner, I could see Corbière lighthouse in the distance, which I recognised from my recce walk earlier in the year, but it was at the end of the long flat beach of St Ouen's. Mentally this was the hardest part of the whole thing for me - the lighthouse didn't seem to get any closer and the midday sun was brutal. So I had well-timed support from Mum, Penny and Jenny followed by a surprise visit from my friend Jenny and her daughter Jess, who brought a 'Keep Going Auntie Charlotte' pack of energy bars, plasters and ibuprofen/paracetamol as well as a much-needed hug just when I needed it the most!

The long flat stretch of St Ouen's

With Mum and Jenny

With Jenny and Jess at St Ouen's

When I finally made it to the lighthouse, I knew it was 'just' the south-west corner to go, and the ups and downs were a welcome change to the flat terrain of St Ouen's. Also part of my recce walk, I knew the twists and turns coming up so I could pace myself and really enjoy the last bit again. Amazing what some support from friends, a fresh pair of socks and a couple of paracetamol and ibuprofen can do to your motivation!

Corbière lighthouse... finally!

St Brelade's

Portelet beach

The last flat bay from St Aubin to St Helier was mentally tough again, but after 12.5 hours of moving time I finally made it to the finish and a very welcome leg massage!

BONUS Microadventure #5 - Mountain Sleep-Out

If you had accidentally booked accommodation on your yoga retreat holiday for 4 nights instead of 5, and there was only one room available for the extra night, would you...

a) Share a room with your snoring Mum? 
b) Sleep in one of the retreat's comfy wigwam tents?
c) Borrow a sleeping bag and tarpaulin as a makeshift bivvy bag and sleep on top of a hill?

No brainer, right? Just a shame about the rain... (especially when the rest of the week was sunny!)

Big thank you to Sarah and Martin at Casa de Carrasco for kitting me out at the last minute!

http://www.yogaholidayspain.com/

Setting out about 9pm, aiming for the bit between the trees

Setting up camp on the hill-top yoga platform

Niiiiiight!

My waterproof cocoon/tarpaulin

Morning!

Morrrrre rain on its way

Looking down on the retreat from the hill-top

Microadventure #5 - Coffee in London, Champagne in Paris and Beer in Barcelona... by train!

Terrified of flying, my clever Mum encouraged my Dad to get a campervan so they could still travel but avoid setting foot on an aeroplane. Their first trip was driving from London to Athens for the Olympic Games in 2004, followed by many more adventures around Europe and even to Morocco when I lived there from 2008 to 2010.

But since Dad died in 2014 Mum hasn't been travelling much, so for her birthday this year she joined me at my favourite yoga retreat in the Catalonian mountains of northern Spain. 

By my (self-imposed, unwritten and often illogical) rules, a holiday does not constitute a microadventure, even though I did a bit of trail running (training for June's microadventure) while I was there. But with Mum's fear of flying, a Eurostar from London to Paris and a direct train from Paris to Barcelona, this month's microadventure was all about the journey (which, while a bit cliché, is so often true of life anyway).

The whole thing took about 12 hours, but over a very civilised 9-9 period where we could read, chat, eat, drink, sleep and play A LOT of backgammon. Thanks for being my microadventure buddy this month Mum, and Happy Birthday!

Waiting for the tube from Balham to Kings Cross St Pancras

Coffee before the Eurostar

Opening birthday cards on the train

Waiting for a taxi from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon  in Paris

Waiting for the train to Barcelona at Gare de Lyon

6.5 hours Paris to Barcelona

Birthday Champagne

Whizzing past vineyards

Post backgammon snooze

Beer in Barcelona