Day 5: Annecy (Orienteering)

The next morning I woke up with a sore throat and so groggy from sleep deprivation. And the whiskey. Let's not forget the whiskey.  

We rode a bus out to a forest on a mountaintop and discovered that our activity for today is orienteering.  First we did a little practice run to learn how to use their maps and to spot the orange markers. Then we were turned loose on the full course. 

Russell figured out pretty quickly there was no way we could get all the markers, so we needed to focus on a strategy that optimized points, even if that meant walking right by some that were low hanging fruit.  

My job was to look at the ground to make sure I didn’t trip and to follow Russell.  Every so often, I could spare some attention to look up and help spot the little orange flags. 

Due to Russell’s strategic planning, and my not tripping we ended up finishing in second place, by a wide margin. Woohoo!

There was one flag location (that we weren't allowed to skip) that was a long-ish hike, but led to an absolutely amazing view of Lake Annesy and the mountains. 

I didn't feel any better by the end of the hike, but I didn't feel much worse either, so yay?

They had a toilet with running water, but when I saw the interior of the facilities, I decided I could hold it.Read more