The last part of the holidays started in three different directions: Paula and Dorien went on a week long horse back camping trip, Piet had to go back to The Hague to return to the office and Mary’s brother Tony, with family, arrived for a week of holiday in France. Paula and Dorien started their trip at the stable in Mizoen, with Cecile and two other girls, and on the first day rode to Col d’Ornon to camp under the stars. The second day they descended to Valbonnais where they stayed for 2 days at a small lake. This allowed the blacksmith to come and fix some horseshoes for the remainder of the trip. Via the Taillefer and Bourg d’Oisans they ended up in Mizoen again, exhausted after a week of horse riding and fun in beautiful weather.
A few days later Paula’s friend Laura arrived to stay for the last 10 days of the holidays. They were allowed to ride small village pony using a cart (which they also used as rickshaw). For the rest they played lots of cards, and went to Cecile a few times to ride and help her with little kids.
When Piet returned it was finally time for some outdoor activities. The backpacks were filled up and we hiked to Refuge de la Selle, one of the mountain huts we hadn’t visited before. It is a spectacular place, with the dining area suspended in the air. When we arrived we left the backpacks and continued to the nearby glacier. We didn’t reach it, but got a good idea for next time. Every year we are planning some real mountaineering, and we are getting closer each time…. After a healthy meal we slept in the dormitory, and the next morning we descended back to St. Christophe. On the way down we lost Paula and Laura, and after a long wait we were getting worried. We split up to look for them, and Mary found them nearby, covered in red spots.. they had been picking raspberries and filled two drinking bottles. So we ate raspberry pie that evening! Two days later we went back to the same area to do the Via Ferrata, a secured rock climb.
The last days were spent in the garden and on the bike, and we had the neighbours over for farewell drinks. Then it was time to clear everything away, close the house, hook up an empty horse trailer, and we drove home to our regular life of office, school and …..horses! More about that later.
Riding in the mountains during the horse - camping trip
Sleeping under the stars: Cecile, Elsa and Dorien
Cecile riding towards Taillefer
Dorien passing Lac Fourchu, near Taillefer
Paula and Laura are making a tour with Image
Spectacular: Refuge de la Selle
Paula is climbing the Via Ferrata of St. Christophe
Mary, Laura and Paula are crossing a suspension bridge on the Via Ferrata
Dorien's shadow is also doing the Via Ferrata
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