Walk 22/2008 – Annecy, France.

Saturday 20th September

For the main walk today we decided to tackle the imposing mountain which stood above us on the opposite side of the lake. We took the cars as far as we could and this involved some tricky navigating through the outskirts of Annecy before we found the right road. The road was quite narrow in places. At one point Simon, who was sitting on the mountain side of the car, warned Alan that he was getting quite close to the bushes by the side of the road. Alan’s response was that he preferred this to the vertical drop that was on his side!

Most of the walking was in the trees so although there was some hazy sun, there was a chill in the air at the height we were at. However we did eventually find the path which went along the top of the ridge and from here, where there were gaps in the trees, we got some good views across the lake.

As is usually the case when walking through the woods, we were not totally sure where we were, but we did eventually find our way back to the car. Then Andy did his usual trick of leading the drive back to the hostel but not waiting for us at traffic lights, etc. This meant that the occupants of the second car were lost without a map driving around Annecy. We had to use the sun to orientate ourselves, following which we managed to get to the lake from where we were able to find our way.

Barbara and Cathy did not do the main walk. They climbed up through a wooded walk to a viewpoint half way up the hillside and looking out over the huge lake. Today gave an added dimension to the views as they were holding the annual dragon boat racing on the lake. We took a tricky descent and at one point used the prominent roots of an ancient tree to assist us! After our short walk we then took a leisurely lunch by the lake and in the warm sun. We had chosen a most desirable picnic spot with plenty to watch – water activities – boating, water skiing windsurfing and a shuttling ferry together with 2 different weddings with family groups being photographed. We then did a partial walk around sections of the old town partaking in a coffee stop in a busy street. Cathy ordered an ‘Americano’ and instead of the diluted expresso that was expected was brought a gin and campari – such is the art of different languages!

In the evening we all went out for dinner in a restaurant in Annecy Town and the majority ate the famous ‘Tartiflette’ – a typical French dish of layered potato, bacon and cheese. After a most pleasant evening we returned back to our hostel with a walk along the lamp lit river

Report – Alan and Cathy

Pictures – Alan, Andy and Simon

I can’t understand why this was nicknamed the testicle tree.

Owen and Andy walk odd into the distance.

Another strange tree shape.

A woodland track.

Another part of Annecy.

We stop for pictures.

For quite a while.

We walked along this edge.

It was a bit like Striding Edge in places.

Claire with her trusty stick.

Views through pines.

Down by the lake.

Our cosy eating place that evening.