So I have decided that I need to play more with my camera, I spend a lot of the time on the Internet looking at pictures and thinking about photography so it is time I actually did some of it rather than think about it.

After being in Chamonix, we headed over to Champery in Switzerland to take part in the Passporte de Soliel. Which is a ride that entails us riding around the whole Porte de Soliel region.

It is about 75km long in length, but thankfully most of the climbing is done by these:Lara and friend Rob on one of the lifts. It was a great day, the weather was kind to us, it was threatening to rain all day but stayed dry. With just under 6000m of descending it really gave the forearms a work out and was great to ride the trails in this region, which went from tiny alpine single track to world cup downhill tracks. Lara ” shredding” it. Screams of “WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE” Could be heard all over the valley!

An event i would thoroughly recommend to everyone.

So we headed off to Chamonix to meet up with Chris and Rowie. Was great to see them again, and they were both on very good form when we met up with them in a bar late on Wednesday night. Unfortunately we had a little too much to talk about so had to stay int eh bar a bit longer.

Waking up Chris said he felt like death. So what better to do than go climbing in hot sun.

So we went to a little crag called Le Joue in the Chamonix Valley. Lara set off all eager and energetic,I set off all energetic and eager. Then the sun really came out and it resorted into some of this type of thing and type of thing. As the day got hotter and the hangovers properly kicked in, we spent what turned out to be a lovely day relaxing and doing the odd bit of climbing.On the top of one route, i saw something in the far yonder distance. I pointed it out to everyone, but they said I looked like a nonce…..

We are off to the Port De Solliel for a MTB event, back on Sunday for updates and pictures…..

Till then, it is not to late to vote for me!!!!!!

Caryn and Frank arrived on Sunday. We spent a lovely few days together, eating a bit too much and drinking a bit too much (but this is our holiday so we are allowed!!!!!)

Yesterday we went to the local lake ‘Lac De Serre Poncon‘. After a little picnic we decided it was time to go race some pedalos!So with Lara and I on one, and Frank and Caryn on the other we set off. I promised I would not gloat, so can not tell anyone who won….

Next up was Lara’s first go at water skiing. Most people know that Lara is rather nervous in water due to her not being the most confident of swimmers. But she got in and started off with the beginners bar.

Mastered straight away – next onto the rope on the bar.Again mastered straight away. Next on to the rope behind the boat. This is where I thought i would see some fun, so camera at the ready…..The spoil sport got up first go and was burning around with no hassles what so ever. Even showing off a bit. She then decided to get a little cocky and go over the waves.Ha ha – that will teach you for being so good!!!! She did not let go of the bar either and pulled the legendary “I don’t want to get my face wet” face that she pulls! classic. But she was straight back up and mastering the waves bit again.

This time mastering it but pulling some new faces that i had never seen before. She has a very malleable face my wife!Caryn and Frank proudly watching Lara being a water skiing hero on her first go.Caryn and Lara snuggling on the boat after Lara finished her hero go. Next it was my turn, I had already done it a few times years ago, so I was up and going around and loving it.I then had the same problems as Lara and started show boating and ended up like her.We both loved it and will definitely be going back to do it again, so watch this space for more water skiing action!!!!

So we went off to Les 2 Alps to go and do the FreeRaid du Les 2 Alps. no pictures as it was a downhill blast feast. over 53km of downhill and 5900m of decent. So massive arm pump and huge smiles after we finished and decided that having DH bikes in the Alps is the way forward!!!

So our friend Kim (aka Kimbo) came and saw us. After a rather blonde moment she missed her connecting flight in Amsterdam due to not working out there is a time difference between Aberdeen and Amsterdam….. then due to this mishap, her baggage was lost. Not usually too bad, but is a little worse in this case as she was kindly bringing over some milk for Lara which burst in her bag. So by the time the bag turned up two days later is did completely and utterly stink.

After a quick trip to the shops to get her some new clothes, Lara and Kim set off on a via ferrata in Devoluy

It was Kim’s first go at this weird and wonderful sport, Soon she was flying around up and down the rock and flying across all the ladders and wires.Next day we went biking. it was a long climb up With the odd bit of difficult navigation. But once we had got above the tree level it all got rather pretty (not me obviously)Unfortunately the decent was rather over grown as it was a pretty remote area of the alps and the decent was not special to write home about.

Kimbo “shredding it up” as she would like to say.

We had another days biking at Petite Ceuse which was great but took no pictures. Thanks Kimbo for coming to see us!

Lara is just about off to go to Marseilles to pick up Kim, who is with us for 5 days. Looking forward to it! The sun is shining and the temperature is really hotting up.

So packing up the van with what seemed like the contents of the house we set off to Ailefroide. It is a great little village near the top of a valley which gives access to the high mountains. There is a huge campsite there. On arrival, we opened the van and seemed to spread our stuff all over the field.

She got the hang of it however, and we spent half and hour taking pictures in different places. Just have to sort through them and Lara has to chose one for the book. A few of the ones sorted so far.

Off out on the road bikes now. Until next time.