Sydney to Doha Sat & Sun 2 & 3 Sep 2023
September 2, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
David drove us to Denistone station to meet Richard & Karen in the second carriage of the 5pm train. The Qatar airline airport check in took the best part of 2 hours including sorting out a seatRead more
Doha - Geneva - Chamonix Sun 3 Sep 2023
September 3, 2023 in Qatar ⋅ 🌙 32 °C
Arrived Hamad International airport Doha Qatar about 4.30am local time and split the Euro I brought with the group. The airport is large, beautifully made with very few planes considering its size.Read more
Chamonix French Alps Sun 3 Sep 2023
September 3, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Arrived at Chamonix in the French Alps around 5pm and made our way to the Vallee Blanche Hotel. After a shower we walked around the town took photos and purchased dinner in a cafe/restaurant. AfterRead more
TMB Bellevue cable car Mon 4 Sep 2023
September 4, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Got up at 7am. Great breakfast then some grocery shopping for the hike. Out of Vallee Blanche hotel Chamonix in the French Alps around 10am, but managed to miss the bus to Les Houches twice because weRead more
TMB to Les Contamines France Mon 4 Sep
September 4, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
A little further down the road in the village of Bionnassay in the French Alps was a 400 year old church. There was lovely scenery as we descended down to the valley and on to the village of LesRead more
TMB to Refuge de la Balme Tue 5 Sep 2023
September 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Up at 6.30am, breakfast and left La Ferme a Piron Gite in Les Contamines (1,100 metres) about 8.15am and walked up the valley to the Notre-Dame de la Gorge church before the days uphill began. The TMBRead more
TMB to Refuge de la Crox du Bonhomme Tue
September 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
After lunch we continued following the TMB route uphill to reach the Col de Bonhomme (2329 metres). We arrived at our accommodation at Refuge de la Crox du Bonhomme (2444 metres) about 4.15.pm. WeRead more
TMB to Refuge des Mottets Wed 6 Sep 2023
September 6, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 10 °C
Up at 6.15am, breakfast at 7am, before the flies got up. Breakfast of corn type flakes with chocolate, bread jam and coffee. Left Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme (2444 metres) at 8am and commenced theRead more
TMB Val Veny Italy Wed 6 Sep 2023
September 6, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The Col de la Seigne (2512 metres) saddle is the border between France and Italy which we reached around 3.15pm. Richard was limping at this stage and the last three kilometres to Rifugio ElisabettaRead more
TMB Val Veny & Aosta Italy Thu 7 Sep
September 7, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 10 °C
Up at 6.30am. The unexpected upgrade to a private room was fantastic. Breakfast was black coffee, bread, jam and biscuits. Left Refugio Elizabetta (2195 metres) at 8.15am and walked down the scenicRead more
TMB to Courmayeur Italy Thu 7 Sep 2023
September 7, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
We arrived at the Rifugio-Restaurante Maison Vieille around 12.45pm and had a long lunch. After lunch we walked through the Maison Vieille ski resort followed by a steep foot track descent to DolonneRead more
TMB Val Ferret balcony path Fri 8 Sep
September 8, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Up at 6.30am and breakfast at 7am. Left the Hotel Edelweiss in Courmayeur (1224 metres) and walked to the bus station. We caught the Val Ferret bus around 9am and Karen and I alighted at the GrandRead more
TMB across Val Ferret Italy Fri 8 Sep
September 8, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After lunch at the Rifugio Bonatti (2035 metres) Yvonne and I walked ahead of Richard and Karen to try and reach the accomodation for the night early enough before others arrived to get a room for usRead more
TMB to Grand Col Ferret Sat 9 Sep 2023
September 9, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Up at 6am, breakfast 7am, started walking at 8.30am from the Rifugio Elena (2061 metres) in Italy. Morning tea at Grand Col Ferret (2537 metres) around 10.20am which is the border between Italy andRead more
TMB to La Fouly Switzerland Sat 9 Sep
September 9, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Soon after beginning the descent into the Swiss Val Ferret we saw marmot and later a kite in flight hunting. Yvonne swapped her boots for crocs which she wore for the rest of the day. Lunch at GiteRead more
TMB to Champex Sun 10 Sep 2023
September 10, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Up around 6am as people were taking their gear downstairs for tour operators. Breakfast at 7am. Left our accommodation at Maya-Jolie in La Fouly (1600 metres) at 8.30am and Richard stayed at the busRead more
TMB Swiss bovine farm route Mon 11 Sep
September 11, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Noisy Gite during the night. Someone’s alarm went off at 5am. Up 6am, breakfast 7am. Karen, Yvonne and I left the Gite Bon Abri in Champex (1470 metres) about 8.15am and followed a lovely valleyRead more
TMB to Col de Balme Tue 12 Sep 2023
September 12, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Up at 6.30am. Breakfast at 7am. First cloudy day. Started walking around 8.15am from Hotel Col de la Forclaz (1526 metres). Richard stayed and caught a bus at noon, then a train to our accommodationRead more
TMB to Argentiere France Tue 12 Sep 2023
September 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Lunch at a refuge on the Swiss side of the border at Col de Balme (2204 metres) between Switzerland and France around 1pm. After lunch descended through ski slopes to Col des Posettes (1992 metres)Read more
Travel to Chamonix France Wed 13 Sep
September 13, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Up at 6am out of habit while others slept. Walked to a bakery/café in Argentiere with Richard just after 7am and bought bread and 3 coffees. Breakfast around 8am. Steady light rain at 8.45am. LeftRead more
Leschaux ice tunnels Wed Sep 13 2023
September 13, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
From the Montenvers cog train station we needed to use a gondola cable car to travel down to where the glacier once was. From this point there were 500 steps to walk in the rain down to the valleyRead more
Pick up French hire car Thu 14 Sep 2023
September 14, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Up at 6.45am. Breakfast at 7.10am. Packed and left the Hotel Vallee Blanch in Chamonix and caught the bus at 10am that Karen had previously booked to Geneva airport. There was impressive roadRead more
Orange Provence France Fri 15 Sep 2023
September 15, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Up at 6.30am. Breakfast around 7am. Left the Face West Hotel in Le Pont around 8.30am. Parked at Orange around 9.30am visited the Orange Roman amphitheatre for about 1 hour which was built in theRead more
Carpentras & Gordes Provence Fri 15 Sep
September 15, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Arrived at the Friday markets at Carpentras around 11am. I purchased a bum bag and sun glasses. Yvonne got shorts. We also purchased and ate lunch. This was shared cheese, sausage and bread eaten inRead more
Des Bories & Avignon Provence Fri 15 Sep
September 15, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
We drove to the nearby Le village Des Bories which is a open air museum of dry stone huts along a narrow challenging stone walled road. We arrived around 4pm. This UNESCO site consists of restoredRead more














































































































































































































































