Sweet smells

Hot dry weather for the foreseeable future so this morning I started cutting hay. More to cut tomorrow. Cutting it now, rather than late June, means that it is easier to cut, I'm not plagued by flies and I can get another cut in August. The smell of drying hay is lovely. More tung/linseed oil mix is going on the rifle stock and that smells lovely too.

The vegetable garden is also doing well - potatoes, onions, spinach, courgettes, strawberries, tomatoes, cauliflower and cabbage all doing well. Carrots go in tomorrow.

First coat of oil

After a day of sanding and then raising the grain, the stock got it first coat of oil today - 2 weeks of finishing still to do but the grain and colour look very promising.

Après poncant toute la journée, je l'ai donné une première couche de huile - deux semaines de travaux de finition a faire mais le grain et le coleur sont joli déja.

Remington Model Seven

The new shaped stock awaiting finishing

I was never very satisfied with the stock on my Remington Model Seven rifle. It was too long in the forestock for a carbine length barrel, it lacked a heel on the grip, the checkering was poor and the inletting atrocious. The stock creaked because it was stressed against the action. So the plan has always been to build a new stock, I have some very nice local walnut seasoning at the moment but I can't wait until 2012 when it will be ready. So I have ordered a laminated wood blank (the stability of laminate being good for the tough conditions here). Meantime I thought I should practice my gunsmithing techniques on the old stock.

Je n'aime jamais la crosse de mon carabine Remington Model Seven. Trop longue pour le canon et la fabrication mauvaise. Je plan à remplacer avec une faire de moi avec le noyer de Quélébu qui secher en planches, mais il sera prêt d'utiliser en 2012 - je ne veut pas attender. Alors, j'ai commander une piece de bois laminée (bien pour les conditiones de chasse dur et les mauvais temps d'hiver), et quand j'attend pour le livraison j'ai décidé de practiser des techniques sur ma vieille crosse.

So over the past week I've been spending the evenings, reshaping the stock. I've shortened the forestock by 3 inches (which also meant removing the checkering), free floated the barrel, reshaped around the tang, introduced a heel, redone some of the checkering on the grip and last night I glass bedded the action (the plan is to pillar bed the action in the new stock).

Pendant ces derniers jours, j'ai passé les soirs, travailler sur la crosse - Plus court, nouvelle form, canon flotant, la mécanisme coucher sur epoxy.

Epoxy bedding around the recoil lug and tang

Still have the finishing to do on the stock and under the brown stain Remington seem to have sprayed on it (now removed), there is some lovely grain emerging. The project is coming together nicely and I'm very pleased so far. Maybe I don't need a new stock afterall?

To see the completed project click here and for a second remington model 7 project click here

Encore la finition de faire, mais ca me plait. Peut-être je n'ai pas besoin une nouvelle crosse?

Building Works

At last the scaffolding is down at Justin's so here are some pictures of the balcony and roof I've been building.

Enfin l'échafaudages à chez Justin est demonter, donc voila - la galerie et tôit que j'ai fais.

Works at Pont de la Taule are also progressing, the kitchen is taking shape and much of the first fix electrics are in.

Pont de la Taule avance aussi, la cuisine et la distribution electrique.

Tonight a cheese fondue with Justin, Emily, Amanda, Benji, Ian and Nina.

Tuc de Bignau (ski)

After Sunday's trip to Tuc de Bignau, I decided to do it again, on skis. Clear skies last night but the snow wasn't frozen this morning. About 40 mins of carrying before I hit the snow (Refuge Forestiere d'Areau) then continous to the col below the summit (right hand skyline in photo above). Spring snow and a fun easy descent. Arriving at the sign post at 1998m I ascended Cour Vic (on foot) for another descent (on skis) back to the Cabane d'Areau. Back at the col de Pause in time for lunch. 1000m ascent/descent 3hr 30min.

Après ma sortie en raquettes Dimanche dernière à Tuc de Bignau, j'ai decidé de repeter aujourd'hui en ski de rando. Eclaircies dans la nuit, mais pas de regel nocturne. Quarante minutes de portage entre col de Pause et la Refuge Forestière d'Areau, mais puis neige continu jusqu'au col en dessous le sommet. Belle descente facile sur neige printaniere. De point 1998m ascent de Cour Vic (à pied) pour une deuxième belle descente à la Cabane d'Areau. 1000m denivilée, 3hr 30 min Aller/Retour - beau temps.

Tuc de Bignau

Mont Valier and Petit Valier

View from the summit - mostly Spain

It's been far too long since I've been in the mountains so today I set off for a short excusion to find my 'hill-feet'.  I parked at the last hairpin before Col de Pause (1500m), where the road is still blocked by an avalanche, and set off for Tuc de Bignau (2395m). Met some local ski tourers who despite the long carry found some good descents today (from the col below Tuc de Bignau and then Cour Vic). My ascent was straightforward apart from having to descend and then reascend about 200m to retrieve my camera which I dropped (no harm done thanks to the padded case). Plenty of snow and my new walking boots got their first outing - they seem reasonably comfortable.

Il est longtemps depuis j'ai visité les montagnes, donc aujourd'hui j'ai fait une petite sortie. J'ai garé la voiture à la dernière virage avant le Col de Pause (1500m) cause d'avalanche. En route de Tuc de Bignau (2395m) j'ai rencontré des skiers qui malgré la portage ont trouvé des belles descentes. Rando facile sauf en dessous du sommet j'ai laissé tomber mon photo appareil - 200m de denivilée de plus du chercher. Encore beaucoup de neige, et mes nouvelles chaussures de randonnée sont trés comfortable.

Only three hours for the round trip, so time for some scything, mucking out, shed cleaning, weeding and planting back home in the afternoon.

Trois heures aller/retour, donc temps à faucher, défumier, nettoyer l'atelier, désherber et semencer des legumes a chez moi.

Still no sheep

The works at Justin's are pretty much finished for me now - oak balcony and roof structure complete. Today I recommenced the work at Pont de la Taule and am aiming to get the kitchen done in the next week or so.

Still no sign of Una, I search most evenings. There are some rough dogs staying in the woods with Mariesa (who lives in a tent in the woods below my house) one is the biggest dog I have probably ever seen in my life - Pitbull/Great Dane cross? I am noticing it's enormous paw prints everywhere in the woods now.  A farmer in the next valley lost 22 sheep last autumn before the culprit was finally identified (and shot I presume) - it turned out to be a dog from the next village (Soulan) which got a taste for lamb.

This evening I have put up little posters asking for everyone to keep an eye out for her...only as I pinned up the last one I noticed a typing mistake.  Instead of typing "Si vous la voyez, appelez moi" (if you see her, call me) I have typed "Si vous la volez appelez moi" (if you stole her, call me).  I'll have to alter them tomorrow.

Missing Sheep

Since Thursday Una has been missing. When I left in the morning for Justin's I had 7 sheep when I got back in the evening 6. It is very unusual for one sheep to go missing - usually if one sheep escapes they all escape, and if they can't all escape the that did escape will hang around on the other side of the fence. The last two days I have walked miles searching in vain. She has a bell, one horn and was sheared a few days ago but no-one has seen or heard her. No sign of an exit point from the field, no sign of a struggle, no tracks in the mud.

Depuis Jeudi j'ai manqué une brebis (Una). Quand je suis parti à chez Justin j'ai eu sept brebis mais quand j'ai rentré j'ai eu six. C'est bizarre de manquer une brebis parce que normalement elles restent toujours ensemble, si une échappe toutes échappent. Les derniers jours J'ai marché des kilometers, cherchant sans success. Elle a une cloche, une corne, les boucles et je l'ai tendu semaine dernier, mais ne personne a la vu ou entendu. Pas de evidence de sortie, pas des traces.

Sheep shearing over

All the sheep are now sheared - what a job! Wool was very waxy and very dense and fine - couldn't push the electrics shears through it (think I need to get a different comb for next year), so did most of it with hand shears - difficult when engaged in 'hand to hand combat' with a sheep. Two sacks of wool to be washed and carded.

Toutes mes brebis ont été tendues - quel travail! La laine etait très grasse et dense - il etait impossible de pousser la tendeuse dedans (je pense que j'ai besoin une peigne especiale), donc j'ai coupé avec des ciseaux - difficile quand en bataille avec une brebis.  Deux sac de la laine prêt de laver et peigner.

Beautiful weather today and time for some fence rebuilding and scything - a break from building at Justins and Pont de la Taule.

Beau temps aujourd'hui, pour rebattir des clôtures et faucher les prairies - un pause du charpente à chez Justin et Pont de la Taule.

Sheep shearing

Before and after

After working most of the day at Justin and Emily's, I returned home and decided to shear some of the sheep. I started with Mini (the largest) and although it's much, much harder than the professionals make it look, all went well. Next I tried India (difficult to catch) and about a third of the way through a battle commenced and somehow I managed to cut the tip off my finger...ouch! It's hard work trying to restrain the sheep and accurately wield a heavy and razor sharp set of sheep shears. Tired, I decided to wait until I had someone to help me...much easier with two or three people. 

Après travailler la pluspart de la journée à chez Justin et Emily, je rentre et décide de tends les brebis. j'ai commencé avec mini (la plus grande) et malgré c'etait beaucoup plus difficile que apparent, ca va bien. Prochaine essaye India (toujours difficile d'attrapper) et après 30% la battaille a commencé et pendant le chaos j'ai coupé un petit morceau de mon doigt - oi! C'etait difficile de tenir la brebis et tendre a le même temps avec une tendeuse lourd et bien aiguisé. Fatiger, j'ai décidé d'attendre pour un coup de main - ce sera plus facile avec deux ou trois personnes.

Mini looks much smaller but she soon reminded Una that she was top-dog after a fairly ferocious head to head butting session.

Mini a l'air d'être plus petite mais elle a rappelé Una que elle est la patrone après elles ont cassé leurs têtes.

It's a sheepy stand-off

"Come on, if you think you're hard enough." The new lambs are getting bullied.

Flood!

More heavy rain arrived yesterday evening (at the same time as my two new lambs). It continued throughout the night and by morning the barn was flooded (again). The sheep stayed outside in the downpour all day - not surprising as the barn had been turned into a slurry pit and all the straw was sodden.

After removing all the bedding, I set to work digging trenches around the barn to try and relieve the flood waters - hard work with a pickaxe trying to get through stiff clay and assorted rocks. By lunchtime I was soaked to the skin and hadn't made much difference to the flooding situation. I was out of straw and today is the May holiday in France so everywhere was closed. Concerned that the new arrivals who have never been outside before and have little wool to speak of, might get chilled without any straw, especially as they'd been out in the monsoon all day - straw had to be found. Alban the farmer in the next valley saved my bacon (or lamb) and gave me half a round bale. The rain eventually stopped in the early evening and after some more trenching I eventually unearthed two drainage holes in the exterior wall and the much of the water in the barn was released.

Sadly Claude, my dear friend and neighbour, has passed away. He had heart surgery about 3 weeks ago following a heart attack and never regained consciousness. I will miss him greatly.

Nice weather for ducks and kayaks

Raining today so spent the day at Pont de la Taule painting and wall paper stripping. Need to build a fire place next week.

Aujourd'hui il pleut, donc j'ai peint à Pont de la Taule. Semaine prochaine j'ai besoin constuire un chiminée.
On the way back I watched the kayak race down the Salat river.

À la rentrée j'ai regardé un competition de kayak sur la Salat.

Vegetables

A trip to St G market for some seedlings - then planting out tomatoes, courgettes, onions and lettuce.  These join the potatoes (now sprouting) and the strawberries Emily gave me.  A fence around the veggie plot will hopefully keep the chickens out. The grass seeds in the new field 1 extension have finally germinated so the nettles and brambles were scythed down to hopefully let the grass dominate.

Une excursion à St G à acheter des plants - des tomates, des courgettes, des oignons et des salades. Celles joignent les pommes du terre et les fraises, donné-moi par Emily. Une clôture au tour de la potager - j'espère que il barrera les poules. Les semences dans le pré numero un ont germiné enfin, donc j'ai fauché toutes les ronces et les orties.

Low cloud came in late afternoon and the rain finally broke at about 8.30...an 'atmospheric' evening view (the colour in the photo above is unaltered).

La brume est arrivé dans l'après-midi et le pluie commence à 20.30...un soirée atmosphèrique (les coleurs de l'image au dessus sont originaux).

Archaeology

Whilst looking for mushrooms a few evenings ago I was crossing a stream (which had eroded a deep channel after the recent storms) and I noticed a short length (6" or 15cm) of dressed stone crossing in the stream bed - after a bit of poking around I realised I had stumbled across an old lavoire which was now completely buried under the hillside.  I went home for a spade and began to dig. After two evenings and most of today I have unearthed the old Pinsou/Quélébu lavoire at Gouteto.  There's some more digging still to do (getting all the clay out is hard work) but John said he'll give me a hand. It's about 30' x 10' x 2' deep (10m x 3m x 60cm deep) with two interconnected pools and twin outflows.  The back is carved into the white limestone at the springline and I even found an old stone spout through which the stream used to flow (it needs to be refixed).

Lorsque je cherche les champignons il y a deux jours, j'ai traversé un ruisseau (qui a fait un profond rigole pendant l'orage) et j'ai aperçu un court piece de pierre preparé dans le lit du ruisseau. Après un peu de investigation j'ai realisé que j'avais trouvé un vieux lavoire completement caché sur un éboulement.  J'ai rentré à chercher un pèle et commencé de croiser. Après deux soirées et tout la journée aujourd'hui j'ai découvert la ancienne lavoire de Pinsou/Quélébu à Gouteto. Il y a encore des travaux (il etait un boulou de vider l'argille) mais John m'a dit que il m'aideras. La lavoire est 10m x 3m x 60cm profondeur) avec deux eviers et deux sorties. Au fond est une calcaire blanche.

The weather has been glorious for the past couple of days.  Yesterday I was making all the oak window and door surrounds at Justin and Emily's for their new extension, which is marching along apace...already upto first floor level.

Les temps ces dernières jours etait magnifique. Hier j'ai fabriqué les encadrements de chêne à chez Justin et Emily pour la agrandissement de leur maison, deja au niveau de la première étage.

The River Wild

Woke up to the sound of a river this morning.  4 inches of rain has fallen in 24 hours and the little stream I've been clearing for the past few months had become a raging torrent - well audible from the house.  Most the paths had become streams too.

J'ai me reveillé le matin et ecouté un rivière. 100mm de pluie tombais dans les dernière 24 heures et le petit ruisseau que j'ai dégagé cettes dernières mois a devenu un torrent déchainé. Toutes les chemins sont ruisseaux aussi.

The path to Gouteto/Chemin à Gouteto.

Huge clumps of purple toothwort brought into bloom by the rain.

The sheep sporting newly washed fleeces (by the rain) ready for shearing

Les brebis avec leurs laine bien laver par la pluie, prêt à couper.

I've been working at Pont de la Taule for the past few days and for next few too probably. Travaux à Pont de la Taule les dernières jours.

New arrivals

Two new chickens

Four seasons in one day

Very changeable weather at the moment...but a chance to catch up on household chores, scything, servicing the chainsaw, tidying the workshop and admin' like my french tax return!

Oak framing

Having prepared plans to double the size of Justin and Emily's house in readiness for the impending arrival of twins, I have been lending a hand with the construction.  This morning I jumared onto the roof and demolished the chimney then abseiled back down (we didn't have a big enough ladder). Then he and I started on the construction of the new balcony. Using oak sawn a couple of years ago from trees felled at Justin's, we managed to build the first bay of the new balcony (which will eventually wrap around the enlarged house) by the end of the day.

Chickens and sheep

My sick chicken looked poorly once again today and after an examination I decided to end her suffering. she's an old chicken and had water belly (or duck disease). Tonight the cockerel was out looking and calling for her...very sad. Hopefully I'll replace her tomorrow with two new hens.

The sheep on the other hand have been giving me the run around. Three times I've tried to move them down to field 4 in the woods, and three times they've escaped en route. Very frustrating, at times I thought about giving them the same treatment as the hen!

The rest of the day was spent logging a bough that a beech tree dropped dropped during the winter and building a mock-up of a window frame for John and Sandrine's barn - their builder has an unfortunate combination of inexperience and arrogance. There is a very unsatisfactory detail on the dormer window to their new gite which he is building and despite their requests he has blankly refused to change his 'mostly mastic' construction, so I'll have to build something that works. Incredibly, despite his inexperience, he's as much as said that if any of his work is 'questioned' again or even 'inspected' he'll 'walk'. I doubt he'll be in business long, he should remember who's building it is and who is paying his wages.

Spring

After skiing through wet concrete yesterday I went for dinner at Anne-France and Magnus's place in La Trappe.  They are over for their Easter holidays from Sweden and it's the first time we've met in the flesh - we knew of each other through our respective blogs. Fellow blogger Penny came too as did my neighbour Dani from La Bordasse. A relaxing evening after the 'ski'.

Après le ski dans béton hier, J'ai visité Anne-France et Magnus pour un repas à La Trappe. Ils ont ici en vacances de Suede et c'etait la première fois que nous nous avons rencontré tête à tête. Avant c'etait sur le internet. Penny et Dani (ma voisine de La Bordasse) ont venu aussi. Une soirée sympa après le 'ski'.

Today has been a beautiful hot spring day (35 in the sun) and the scything is beginning again as all the plants start to grow once more.  My white hen which has been ill for the last week has shown some signs of improvement today so I hope she will 'pull through'...though it might just be old age.

Aujourd'hui un journée printanière et chaud (35 au soliel) et le fauchage a recommencé comme toutes les plantes pousse encore. Ma poule blanche etait malade depuis un semaine mais aujourd'hui elle a signalé un peu mieux. J'espere que elle va vivre, mais elle est tellement vieux.

Guzet (ski)

With 30cm of fresh snow having fallen yesterday, a quick trip to Guzet this afternoon seemed like a good idea (even though it's been closed a few weeks now). Unfortunately the snow proved to be very heavy. After breaking trail to skin up to the top of Picou, we tried to descend what is normally the black run called Coombe. Trying to move forward even on steepest parts was difficult and turning more difficult still. The snow stuck to our skis and tried to set like concrete. At one stage I fell over and couldn't move for the weight of sticky heavy snow on top of my skis and it took me some time to release the bindings before two handed I heaved to withdraw the skis from the snow. I wouldn't want to be avalanched in this stuff!

Il y a 30cm de fraiâche, et une court visite a Guzet a semblé un bonne ideé ( malgré que la domaine etait fermer depuis trois semaines). Malheuresment on a trouvé la neige tellement lourde et tellement humide. Après avons fais l'ascension de Picou, Ian et moi avons essayé de descendre un piste noir, mais la descent etais très lent et difficile. La neige a collé à nos skis et solidifié comme béton!

Pasties

Outside it's been snowing all day, inside I've been busy baking Pyrenean Pasties for future packed lunches.

Dehors il neige toutes la journée, dedans je suis occupé avec la cuisine - Pyreneed Pasties - pour les pique-niques.

Guzet

A short snowshoe this afternoon to check out conditions...photos below.

Un court promenade en raquettes cette apres midi pour verifier les conditions de la montagne.

There is snow forecast for tomorrow above 1000m, perhaps as much as 30cm! Bizarre as today on the snow I was in a tee shirt. With a short snap of cold weather there is still plenty of skiing to be had (even at Guzet if you are prepared to skin up the piste). Today North slopes are still snow covered from 1400m with 60-80cm at 1550m but south slopes are completely bare until 1700/1800m.

Demain on attend de la neige au dessus 1000m, peut-être 30cm! Bizarre parce que aujourd'hui j'ai porté un T-shirt. Cependant des temps froides il y aurais beaucoup de ski (à Guzet quand même si on va monter sur les peaux de foq). Aujourd'hui les versants Nord sont bien enneigée au dessus 1400m avec 60-80cm de neige à 1550m mais versants Sud etais péle jusq'au 1700/1800m.

My little ridge below will have to wait a while for a winter ascent the approach is below cliffs still loaded with snow waiting to avalanche.

Mon petit arête en dessous va attender pour un ascension hivernale.

Extreme skiing competition run - Nissan Extreme Verbier 09

Crazy!

Kaj Zackrisson - Nissan Xtreme Verbier 2009

Col de Pause (ski)

Another attempt at a solo ski tour today. After 40 mins of carrying the skis (because the road was blocked by an avalanche but clear beyond) I skinned upto the Col de Pause with the aim of going up to Pic de Cour Vic. The piste which leads to the Cabane d'Areau is cut into the mountainside and is about 6m wide, usually it's crossed by a few small snow slides. Today the road was completely 'lost' under the snow. About 12 fresh avalanches had buried the only tracks leading across the slope (they probably occurred on Sunday/Monday).

Aujourd'hui un deuxième essaye à un ski tour en solo. Après quarante minutes de portage (parce que la route etait bougée par un avalanche) j'ai chaussé au le Col de Pause afin faire l'ascension de Pic de Cour Vic. La piste vers la Cabane d'Areau est coupe dans le versant de la montagne par 6m, d'habitude en hiver il est traversant par des petites coulées de neige. Aujourd'hui la piste etait completement perdre sous la neige profond. Douze avalanches ont caché les traces des dernières ascensionistes.

Too much unstable debree to cross to risk it alone. So a short ski back down - lots of snow above 1700m on North slopes, patchy on other orientations. As Sunday - lots of avalanche activity on steep NW slopes.

Plus de debris instable de traverse tout seul. Un court descent en ski &agrave la voiture. Beaucoup de neige au dessus 1700m versants Nord. Comme Dimanche - beaucoup d'activité avalancheuse sur versants NW.

Salau

Alun and Breezy's this morning

I had a half plan to make a ski tour today, but when I woke up at 6.00 it was still snowing and so I decided on a lie in. At 11.00 the snow had stopped and low cloud was beginning to clear - the forecast was for it to brighten up in the afternoon but remain cold, so I decided to go afterall. It was more of a recconnaisance mission on skis so I headed up to Salau planning on climbing towards Col de Crusous above the mines. The road to the mine was closed so I settled on heading towards Port de Salau instead. Not the greatest ski terrain and starting at a lowly 990m beside Alun and Breezy's place (it's survived the storms) .

J'ai un demi-plan à faire un ski tour aujourd'hui, mais quand je me suis reveillé à six heures il a neigé encore donc j'ai decidé de rester au lit. À onze heures la neige s'arrête et les nuages ont commencé à dégager - méteo France a dit que il va ameliorer dans l'après midi mais rest froid, donc j'ai décidé d'aller. C'etais un recconaissance en ski et j'ai parti à Salau afin monter vers col de Crusous au dessus les mines Anglade. La piste vers les mines etait barré donc je suis allé au direction de Port de Salau. Pas le terrain du ski et j'ai commencé à 990m à côté de chez Alun et Breezy.

Pic des Pontils

There was about 10cm of fresh snow but often no old snow beneath it - things started to thaw quickly and I had only reached 1400m when the avalanches started to thunder down Pic des Pontils at a rate of one every 2 mins crossing my path of ascent and return to the car! Time for a sharp exit. The snow was heavy and wet and but for the views, it was not a great trip.

Il y aurait a peu près 10cm de neige frâiche, mais souvent pas de sous couche - toutes ont commence à fondre très vite et je suis arrivé à 1400m quand les avalanches ont commencé à tomber en dessous Pic des Pontils - un chaque 2 minutes, traversant le chemin de mon ascension et rétreat! Barrons-nous!! Neige lourde et humide, pas un bon voyage.

Update

Spent today finishing off the concreting at Pont de la Taule and sowing grass seeds in the new field. Forgot to take a picture at Pont de la Taule so here's the view from the house this evening (mountains, snow, forest, barn, sheep) ... I never grow tired of it. 

Aujourd'hui j'ai fini le béton à Pont de la Taule et semencé le prairie. J'ai oublié de prendre un photo à Pont de la Taule donc voici la vue de chez moi ce soir (les montagnes, la neige, le forêt, la grange et les brebis)...j'en n'ai assez jamais.

Concrete

On Saturday the sheep had their hooves trimmed - the sheep don't enjoy it and it's a back breaking job for me.  Since then I've been working mostly at Pont de la Taule. Moving ridiculously large and incredibly heavy (not to mention cumbersome) riven marble slabs from the old kitchen to the lobby where there have become the floor and then all the preparation works for pouring the bathroom floor slab (moving and levelling hardcore, drainage works, laying insulation and moving three tonnes of various aggregates from the road to the house in a wheelbarrow).  Today was the day for the pour and fortunately I had Justin, Ian and Jason to help out with the mixing.  It still took all day.  Photos tomorrow.

Samedi j'ai coupé les sabots des brebis - elles n'aiment pas et pour moi, c'est un boulou avec toujours un mal au dos.  Depuis la, j'ai travaillé à Pont de la Taule. Je portais les dalles de marbre enormes, tr&egraves lourdes de la cuisine au foyer, faisais les preparations pour la nouvelle étage en béton (je portais 3 tonnes de gravillons entre la route et la maison en brouette). Aujourd'hui etait la journée pour mélanger le béton - heuresment Justin, Ian et Jason m'aidaient. Il prends toutes la journée enfin.

Weather has turned cold after three weeks of 'summer'.  A little rain today which fell as snow on the mountains and more snow forecast for the weekend.

Après trois semaines d'été les temps s'a gâté. Aujourd'hui il pleut (il neige aux montagnes) et nous attendons plus de neige ce weekend.

Still hot

The hot dry sunny weather continues with no end in sight.  The days alternate between farmwork, building at Pont de la Taule and skiing (last days of the season at Guzet and ski-touring).

Il fait chaud et sec sans arrête. Mes jours passent de travaux à la ferme, bricolage à Pont de la Taule et faire du ski (à Guzet et ski de rando).

Wednesday was my birthday, which was spent skiing with Ian, Sandrine, Hannah (who I took down her first black run), Saskia, Natasha and Tak. John, Anne and her two littluns watched from the restaurant. An indoor barbeque at John and Sandrines' ended a 'relaxed' day.

Mercredi etais mon anniversaire, et j'ai passé la journée avec Ian, Sandrine, Hannah (qui j'ai pris sur sa première piste noir), Saskis, Natasha et Tak.  John, Anne et ses petites ont regardé du restaurant en bas.  Le soir un 'barbeque' dedans chez John et Sandrine.

Veggie patch is shaping up nicely and first seeds and potatoes will be sowed this weekend.

Le potager est en form et je vais semencer les permière legumes ce weekend.

Still hot

The great weather continues. After spending most of the weekend carrying out 'spring cleaning' in the fields I use (scything bramble shoots, picking up sticks and branches, trimming hedges, repairing fences) today was a ski day.

Les beaux temps continuent. Aujourd'hui le ski après je nettoyais les prés pendant le weekend (faucher des petites ronces, ramasser des bouts de bois, couper les haies, repérer les clôtures).

Barry and Helen from Ireland are staying in their house in the village for a short stay. Ian and I were invited to dinner last night and reminiscing about the cycle trip the three of us made last year (over the Port d'Aula and Port de Salau) we invited Barry for a ski.

Barry et Helen les Irlandais sont en vacances dans leur maison au village. Ian et moi ont invité pour un repas hier soir et nous sommes évoqué des souvenirs de nos raide en VTT faire l'année dernier (les deux ports - Aula et Salau) donc nous avons invité Barry pour faire du ski à Guzet.

Barry has only ever skied twice in his life, but as always he was a good sport and ready and willing to try. Ian is a good ski teacher and Barry a quick learner - and by the end of the day Barry had skied his first red piste. I managed to shoot some video on my regular digital camera and there's a short movie of Barry's trials and tribulations below.

Barry a fait du ski seulement deux fois avant, mais comme toujours il etait un beau joueur et prêt d'essayer.  Ian est un bon professeur de ski et Barry apprends vite - a la fin de la journée Barry a fait sa première piste rouge. En dessous en court film.

From My Videos

Cap de Gragnots (ski)

gragnots1 from Lee Sharp on Vimeo.

From My Videos

Up at the crack of dawn to meet with Ian to try and ski up and down Pic des Trois Seigneurs. We had hoped to drive most of the way up to Goutets on the track, but a patch of deep snow at La Foulie blocked the way so an extra 3 miles and 350m of ascent on skis. Snow was iron hard again but on the ridge leading to Trois Seigneurs the wind and sun had removed most the snow leaving thin ice - though huge cornices overhung the East side waiting to collapse. The extra approach, poor snow conditions and the carrying of our skis combined to persuade us to stop just short of Cap des Gragnots and ski back down, before the snow turned to soup! (37 degrees in the sun today). Click on the image above for a short movie including a great face-plant by me. Conditions weren't easy today.

Je me suis reveillé à l'aube de recontrer Ian et essayer de faire l'ascension de Pic des Trois Seigneurs en ski. Nous avons essayé de rouler jusqu'au Goutets sur la piste, mais un endroit de neige profond bloquer la route à La Foulie, donc 5km et 350m denivelée de plus sur les skis. Neige comme béton mais sur la crête entre Col de la Pourtenelle et Cap des Gragnots practiquement pas de neige au cause de vent (sol gelée), mais des corniches enormes prêt de tomber sur les versants Est. L'approche longue, la neige pauvre, la portage et la chaleur...nous somme parti de Cap des Gragnants avant la soupe est arrivé. (37 degrées au soliel). Cliquer sur l'image au dessus pour voir un court film. Conditions pas facile.

Hot, hot, hot

Another beautiful hot day, 32 in the sun, 25 in the shade. Spent the day having another 'rake and burn' day on the new field prior to seeding. With the clear skies at night it is freezing the snow up in the mountains until around midday, so tomorrow another early start for a ski tour!

Une belle journée encore, 32 au soliel, 25 à l'ombre. Tout le journée 'ratellage et brulée' dans le pré neuf avant semencer. Avec les eclaircies dans la nuit il y a les bonnes regels nocturne aux montagnes - alors demain une sortie de ski de rando.

Tuc de la Coume

From My Videos

Clear skies last night gave a frost so Ian and I took advantage and made an early-ish start to climb Tuc de la Coume a modest mountain (1745m) nestled between Ercé and Le Port. Things got off to a bad start when I realised that I'd left my ski poles behind. A couple of branches had to suffice for the rest of the day (unfortunately they weren't the same length and one of them snapped on the descent). The snow was iron hard and Ian took a fall on the way up...he put on his ski crampons and I changed to carrying the skis and wearing regular crampons on my ski boots as I don't have ski crampons for the new skis yet. The views were stunning and the sun shining. The descent was pleasant, though it got a bit scrappy lower down where we had to 'route-find' to find continuous snow. Click on the image above to watch a short movie of the day.

Les eclaircies nuit dernier, donc Ian et moi avons profité de la regel nocturne avec l'ascension de Tuc de la Coume (1745m), un petit montagne entre Ercé et Le Port. D'abord j'ai oublié mes batôns - j'ai reussi avec deux branches (malheuresment pas la même longeur et une casser sur la descente). La neige etais comme béton et Ian est tombé sur l'ascension. Après il a porté ses couteaux et moi mes crampons (skis sur mon sac a dos). Le beau temps et la bellevue. La descent etais pleasant, mais on a cherché une route avec neige en bas. Cliquer sur l'image au dessus de voir un court film.

After the snow

Mont Valier looking almost Himalayan.

Powder and skis

More works at Pont de la Taule this week, then the snow arrived. It has continued for the last couple of days, so today was destined to be a powder day at Guzet and a chance to try my new skis - last years Dynastar Mythic Riders.  There was 50cm of beautiful powder (more where the wind had blown it), the resort was virtually deserted and the new skis 'rocked'. Probably the best days skiing of my life so far.  By the end of the day nearly every bit of off-piste had been tracked, mostly by Ian, Jason and I.  Alas Freychet was closed today but maybe tomorrow...

Poor Justin was snowbound at Las Laous despite his best efforts to make it across to Guzet.

Plus de travaux à Pont de la Taule cette semaine, puis la neige arrivant. Il continuais depuis deux jours, donc aujourd'hui etais destiné d'être un jour poudreuse à Guzet et un occasion d'essayer mes nouveau skis - Dynastar Mythic Riders (2007).  Il y aurais 50cm de belle poudre (de plus ou elle est ventée), la domaine etais practiquement vide et les skis marche très bien. La meilleur journée de ski de ma vie.  À la fin de la journée toutes les pentes hors pistes sont tracé, par Ian, Jason et moi.  Helas le Freychet etais firmé mais peut-être demain...

Pauvre Justin etais bloqué par la neige à Las Laous malgre toutes ses efforts.

Mashed 'tatoes

Spent three hours skiing at Guzet today before the clouds closed in visibility fell to about 8 feet! About 3-4" of fresh snow on Freychet (fell yesterday I think) and some more falling today. Snow was the consistency of mashed potatoes which was interesting to ski. Sometimes lovely (where it was even and steep e.g. "Dome") and sometimes requiring a more aggressive style (where it was deep and cruddy overlaying icy moguls e.g. "isard").

Trois heures à Guzet aujourd'hui avant les nauges sont descendu et la visibilité réduite de moins que 3m.  A peu près 10cm de la neige fraiche on Freychet (qui a tombé hier) et plus tombais aujourd'hui.  La neige etais comme purée de pommes de terre.  À skier quelques fois facile et quelquefois il a demandé un mode de skier plus aggressive.

War photo

Thanks to Paul who found this rare WWII photo of a German unit which patrolled the Pyrenees - if you look carefully one of them is in disguise!

Merci à Paul qui a trouvé cette image de la deuxième geurre mondial du groupe d'Allemands qui sont allé en patrouille dans les Pyrenees - regardez bien un est déguisé!

Farmwork

Temperatures have remained high and the skies clear for the past few days.  Time to catch up on farmwork. 

• Finishing field 1 extension - cutting, raking, burning, fencing and finally putting the sheep in to nibble at the few bits of grass. 
  
• Clearing all the other fields of branches and twigs blown down by the winter storms.
  
• Mucking out the barn and spreading new straw.
  
• Splitting the last of the logs from the lime tree.
  

During a short stroll this afternoon down to the lower valley, I startled a woodcock by the stream - don't often see them.

Next week temperatures are set to drop once again and some more snow.

Biesla (ice)

Up at the crack of dawn for the 2hr 30mins drive to the Biesla tunnel across the border to Spain. We had hoped to climb some of the frozen cascades just on the Spanish side, but they weren't in condition, so we retreated to the French side. In the mist we ascended the valley trying to find the highest (introductory) falls, but they were too short and topped with meringue cornices, so we descended again to "Dorada". Eventually the low cloud lifted and we could see what we were climbing. We launched into a route of 35m at 80/85 degrees. After about 10m of climbing I remembered how bold you have to be climb steep ice. It's been 6 years since I climbed grade 5 ice. David joined the fray and soon we had placed 5 screws and were nearly at the top. Some Spaniards were climbing next to us on the "Variante Directa" which reaches the top with an extra 5m of 90 degree ice. We swapped routes and had a grand day.

Nous nous sommes réveillés avant le soliel a levé et aprés 2hr 30 de la route, sommes arrivé à le tunnel Biesla vers Espagne. Nous avions éspèré de grimper sur les cascades de glace à le sortie du tunnel en Espagne mais elles n'etaient pas en conditiones, donc nous sommes revenu en France. Dans la brume nous sommes monté le vallon afin trouver les cascades plus haut. Malheuresment elles sont trop court avec une garniture des corniches comme meringue, donc nous sommes redescendu a "Dorada". Enfin la brume mont et nous avons pu voir les voies. Nous avons commencé avec unnnnne voie de 35m à 80/85 degrees. Après 10m de grimper Je me suis rappelé que on a besoin être audacieuse sur la glace! Il y a 6 ans depuis j'ai grimpé glace comme ça. David m'a joint dans l'attaque et bientôt nous avons réussi presque à finir la voie. Des espagnols ont grimpé à côté sur la voie "Variante Directa" qui finir avec 5m de glace vertical. Nous échangons nos voies et finissons une grande journée.

Below us we watched an avalanche crash down the opposite side of the valley and block the road back to France. Fortunately it was cleared before we departed.

En dessous nous avons regardé un avalanche parti qui traverse la route vers France.