DeConfinement – Morzine (May 11 – Jul 3 2020)

After 55 days of being confined we were finally allowed out! May 11th (my daughter’s birthday) marked the start of freedom. Sadly the weather turned a bit drab for the first week but this gave Fran plenty of time to piece together gruelling schedule of fun things do: A mixture of bike rides, mountain hikes and visits to lakes and nearby towns.

Man, we burned some calories! We cyled up a few Tour De France climbs (Col De Joux Plane, Col du Corbier, 2 ways to Avoriaz without stops!) and around the local valleys and towns. Tough cycling – always got the blood pumping but rewarded with some amazing descents all on quiet roads.

We also hiked to the top of a few mountains (Pointe de Nyon, D’Angolon, Mont Chery, Ratti, Chavasse, Ouzon plus more!) – the toughest being a 1200m very steep hike up Ressachaux. Always the same – utterly spectacular scenery and stunning displays of spring alpine flowers in the mountain pastures (alpages). Saw eagles, chamois and a frog at the top of Chamosserie.

On top of the world again (this time at Mont Chéry)

We got kinda geeky with the flowers … I mean, I’m no botanist but you can’t ignore them – they’re THAT spectacular!

Spectacular Gentian (oh, and some place called Mont Blanc in the background)

Also visited some flat bits … cycled the French shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and the beautiful town of Annecy – very highly recommended!

Annecy – gorgeous place! Great big lake there too! Fantastic.

The weather can turn in the moutains though and we had some pretty oppressive cloud, rain and storms at times – always dramatic but it can get you down.

We had 54 days in total really getting into the area. It’s definately hard work in the mountains but so stunning at this time of year and thanks to COVID we pretty much had the hikes and rides to ourselves.

Fantastic time and sad to leave after 7 months. Get a feeling we might be back before too long!