Category Archives: France

…and on to Geneva

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The next couple of days were more of a blur as I walked on single-personned. I strolled off west through Morges and Rolle, making it to the cute Nyon by the end of the 16th. Here I was to make another slight diversion to my plan, in a bid to provide variety and to add miles.

After a passable night’s sleep on my bedrolls, I checked out the boat times and just caught one at the last minute over to Yvoir on the south bank. This is on the little “peninsula” near Geneva that I was going to cut across further inland had I stuck to the original route. It’s also a stunningly beautiful little tourist trap (I swear every voice I heard was English) on the country/lakeside road to Geneva.

This is the road I followed, arriving in the city centre around 5:30. I had a couch waiting for me with a lovely lady called Daisy just outside the city somewhere so I used the tram and bus to get there.

Her house is way out of town with very little near it, but I wasn’t short of entertainment with 9 dogs to play with! Not to mention the guinea pigs, fluffy cat, chickens, ducks… There was another couchsurfer in residence as well, who arrived later in the evening and we had a great chat before we all headed to our beds.

The South of France

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A lot of detail’s gone into the 1000 Mile Walk blog, more than I anticipated, so I’ll just post a quick catch-up on some of the places I visited on here. As ever, when I get the chance, photos will follow. I fear this may not be until after I get home, though. Internet connectivity is just so hard to come by at the moment.

Outside of Nice, I’ve seen some wonderful places. Monte Carlo isn’t that special compared to some of them, frankly. Almost everything is tan or orange! The beaches are all pebbles or rocks and tiny, and their football walk of fame that is being built has Diego Maradona as the first "name". Surprisingly, they still have his bootprints and not his handprint in the cement…

The cars are something to behold., however. The last time I saw so many supercars I was walking past the players’ car park next to a football ground. Still, see on Porche, seen them all. Well, they will make them all look the flipping same.

Menton is nicer, in my opinion. At the base of the mountains, slightly larger beaches, cheaper but still a really nice resort. I only walked through but it seemed pleasant.

The real treasures, however, are hidden in the mountains. Sospel was pleasant, situated on a river with a nice little market going on. Tende was a gorgeous place with fountains, great restaurants and a maze of alleyways to rival anything in an Indiana Jones film. But if I had to pick one that you just have to see, it’s Saorge.

It’s perched on a hillside and overlooks a valley. And it’s lovely. Tiny, not a lot to see, nothing to do but grab a meal but it’s a wonderful place to do so. Again, it’s medieval in appearance with all the tiny winding streets. There’s a church and a monastery. But the view. Wow. Has to be seen if you’re in the area.

And we’re off!

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Yes, I’m running late… But I had to get one post up to thank Delphine and her family for the last week or so. They’ve been hugely accommodating, allowing in some weird guy who barely speaks their language, feeding me (very well!) and allowing me full use of the internet. I had a great 3-day trek to get me used to the camping and walking and I’ve had an otherwise lovely chilled time.

So now I’m about to wolf down some breakfast, finish packing (without the tent – going to gamble it shows up today and Delphine can run it out to me) and get on the road. OK, so I’ll start later than I intended but I’ll just walk fast to make up!

Not sure when the next post will be but I’ll try to keep you all up to date as I go.

Running out of time…

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Last couple of days in Nice and I’ve caught up on a lot of stuff. I’m had two interviews for TFM Radio, am waiting a call from a reporter for the Evening Chronicle, have a lot of accommodation sorted courtesy of people on Couchsurfing.com and been to see The Simpsons movie, which utterly rocked. Make sure you stay right till the end of the credits!

This blog is pretty much as up to date as I can get it right now. I wish I had time to upload my photos but I simply haven’t enough hours with all the other things I need to do. Still a pile to work through, but most is done.

I will try to keep posting here. The 1000 Miles blog will mainly be used to just say where I am. All the fun I have, details of things I see and so will go on this one so do keep checking in.

A bus! A bus!

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OK, when I say “deprived me of the opportunity” I mean “saved my ass”. When we woke, it was to look down the valley and see the same bunch of kids wearing white pyjamas with black belts round the waist wailing crap out of each other.

Eep.

After showering (2 Euro each, but way cheaper than a room for the night) we packed up and wandered off on what was supposedly a downhill trek. Only we ended up going uphill. What was stranger was that the initially well-marked trail just vanished at one point. We followed crushed grass for ages – where someone else had obviously continued on – but came to a dead end. Eventually, we gave up looking, walked back down and took the road down to Saint Martin Visubie.

We got there in mid-afternoon – too late for lunch and too early for dinner, but just in time for the bus before the one we’d intended to catch. Hmm. Quick beer or back to the flat and a nice shower… For once, beer lost. This is very rare.

I can honestly say I had a great three days. I ended up tightening my belt another notch (I have no notches left and should really buy new trousers) but am more than pleased with myself for managing. My legs hurt but not too badly and my feet are fine despite being cooped in boots for three days. All very good signs.

I’ve learned a few things for the Walk – I don’t need as much stuff as I thought and I am damn well capable of doing it. Oh, and I hate sleeping in tents but the whole Walk isn’t about having fun, it’s about raising awareness and money.