Tuc de la Coume

After the snow and continuing cold weather a chance to get out in it on skis and snowshoes. As Sheri and Michiel, Becks and Kev, don't have 4x4 we started from Navée above Ercé, rather than driving in from Cominac on the piste which always snowed up. A bit more ascent to make but we donned skis/snowshoes from the car.

Very cold until about midday, when the sun made an appearance and began to warm us. The summit was very chilly with a biting wind so we descended quickly for lunch in the sun a little above the trees.

The first 50m or so of descent wasn't fun to ski as the snow was compacted by the wind and a little crusty but after that is was glorious!

Our lunch spot

 Telephoto of our tracks close to the summit taken from just above Quélébu the following day.

Bouirex on skis

 

Another trip up Bouirex, this time on skis. A couple of laps up to the transmitter and down through the trees before skiing back to the main road (Seix - Col de le Core). Powdery on the first descent getting heavier by the second and very heavy low down. Although there's not so much snow, I only hit a rock under the snow once and that was crossing the piste which heads to the transmitter...a deep gouge in the base now repaired.

 Susie's first ski lesson...me pushing her up and down the deck on skis! Susie was in hysterics.

Stroll up Joubac

A stroll up Joubac this afternoon to see the state of the Snow.

Aleu, Coumarba and Valier

The road to Quélébu

Pic Montaud to Tuc de Berbegué

Pic Caumale and Pic rouge de Bassies

Pic de la Journalade

The loom conversion taking shape

 

It's a white Christmas at Quélébu

 

Col Dret and Tuc de la Coume with Golden Eagle

It was a very long way away and despite several sightings of birds that I thought were juvenile Golden Eagles (all in this area), I think this is my first definite sighting of an Adult.

The sighting was on another snowshoe walk today from the Etang de Lers towards the Tuc de la Coume via the Col Dret. A late start and a leisurely lunch in the glorious sunshine meant we didn't quite make it, stopping at Tuc de Ramonet before heading for home. Sheri and Michiel (recently returned) accompanied us.

Sun cream obligatory

 

Loom conversion counterbalance to countermarch

My loom is a 4 shaft counterbalance loom but in order to weave more complicated patterns and fabrics I've decided to increase the number of shafts to 8. Whilst it's possible to have 8 shafts on a counterbalance loom, there are limitations and so I've decided to convert the loom to a countermarch loom. So I'm currently building (from scraps and an old table) 4 pedals, 8 lower lams, 4 upper lams, 4 shafts and the countermarch assembly with its 16 levers. There's not much information on the web so I'm working from photos of countermarch looms and my own mechanical knowledge.

Cap de Bouirex

Cap de Bouirex Dec 2020 from Danse Ariege on Vimeo.

Goldcrest

Trading in my wide angle lens to get a bit more reach and quality with a second hand telephoto lens...this photo is OK but still a bit blurry and required a heavy crop, so hoping a new lens will help me achieve better results.

All done!

 

Weaving underway!

Alas I tied up the shafts in reverse, so the fabric is upside down...I will have to wait until it's all done to turn it over and see the pattern!

Warping the loom

 All done...the job I like least about weaving.

First snows of winter

The first snows have been arriving at Quélébu over the past few days and will continue during the coming week. Just a few inches at a time, but enough to make everywhere white and put a base down in the mountains for skiing.

The sunny breaks give us a chance to go sightseeing without much cold weather gear.

Below 600m there's no snow to speak of.

Before the snow hit I set about adjusting the injection timing on the tractor as it's not been running as smoothly or powerfully as before the rebuild. Whilst trying to loosen the fuel pump I broke a fuel line which couldn't be replaced until a trip to St Girons the following day...end result was doing the work in short breaks between snowstorms (as the tractor was parked outside!). In the end the injection timing was OK but the duration had to be increased...easily done and now it's running perfectly.

 

Back on the loom!

Trying a slightly different method of warping the loom this time.

Chateau Mirabat

 

After a month of storming up Joubac most days (come sun, rain, frost and snow) today was the last scheduled day (though I might continue). I pushed as hard as I could and did break into a trot once or twice to be sure of getting the best time....31min 45 seconds. A full 8 mins 15 seconds faster than my first attempt, so definitely an improvement (20% off).

Yesterday with the first easing of confinement, we were allowed to exercise for three hours and travel up to 20km. We met up with Sheri at Azas and headed up to Chateau Mirabat.

The ascent through the trees was mostly in the shade but eventually just before the top we emerged into the sunshine. A quick lunch on the summit and spectacular views before rushing back to the car.

First snows forecast for Wednesday - just a few flakes - before heavy snow over the weekend and Monday...can't wait!

Another lockdown day

immature black redstart