Corsica - part 1 the west coast

Our first proper holiday (more than a couple of days) since COVID. A 12 days tour of Western and Northern Corsica with a final dash through the centre. Susie and I met up at Ajaccio. Susie flew from Bristol via Nantes as she had been running a half marathon in Cheltenham to raise money for the Sue Ryder hospice where her sister died and I flew in from Toulouse. First stop Cargèse.

View from the window

The first day we spent on the beach at plage de Péro, swimming and snorkelling. We saw lots of sea bream and a little octopus in the crystal clear waters. Everything in corsica is expensive, especially food which was a bit of a shock - fortunately we had opted to mostly self cater. 

Next day we headed up the coast to Piana and a lovely beach at plage d'Arone.

view across the bay of Porto on the way to plage d'Arone

In the late afternoon we took the road to Porto passing through the amazing Calanques an incrdible landscape of red granite towers and weathered extraordinary shapes dropping steeply all the way to the sea.

On our last day in this area we headed to Porto once more and then headed inland for a stroll along the gorge de spelunca before heading out on a boat trip from Porto to visit the Calanques, Capo Rousso, the nature reserve of Spandola and the village of Girolata. the boats takes you in and out of caves and tunnels through the cliffs. Alas the seabirds for which Scandola is famous were entirely absent. We opted for the high speed Zodiac which was exciting crossing the bay.

A long drive on incredibly twisting roads took us to our next destination the Bonifatu Forest.

Filature de Niaux - a waste of time

The wool mill at Niaux "Sibada Laine" is the only mill within 300km of us and for a long time was closed following an industrial accident in which a worker lost his arm. When they finally started again we asked them to wash our wool. It came back mostly felted and we were very unimpressed, vowing never to use them again. 4 or 5 years later they have completely overhauled their machines and we thought we'd try them again for some carding. Six weeks after dropping off the wool we got a message last week saying it was ready for collection today. We confirmed we would arrive in the morning but when we got there after a 90 minute drive the place was locked up. We called and texted the mobile number of our contact, sent more emails and left messages but no reply. A wasted morning not to mention the cost of the fuel.

We will have to make another appointment to get our wool back. It will be the last time I waste my time with company. I have nothing positive to say about their competence or customer service. 

crazy weather

 Last week we were in a heat wave with temperatures of 38 degrees and high humidity (55 in the sun), even going out side was difficult then in the space of 24 hours all change and the temperatures have plummetted to 11 degrees with snow on the mountains.

Sampling

Whilst I m waiting for a new loom reed suitable for the bathroom rug project, I put a narrow warp on the loom to do some sampling. Playing with bateman blend and basket weave twill.

 

Tractor problems continued

Day 3 - So I took the bolts from the flywheel which were rubbing against clutch and ground their heads down so they protruded 2mm less. Next I cleaned up the PTO drive shaft and re-greased it. I reassembled the tractor (see last post for the process). Then I tried to start it. The starter could barely turn the engine. The lights were suoer bright so it wasn 't a flat battery. something was stopping the engine from turning over - which could only be the PTO shaft. I tried to engage the PTO with the lever on the tractor, but it too was blocked from moving....something was afoot! I tried to see if I could unblock things by turning the PTO from the rear, engaging the PTO clutch but nothing would move.

Nothing for it but to tear down the tractor third time. So another couple of hours taking everything apart. I separated engine and inspected everything. All seemed OK. So reassembly for the thrid time. This time I just couldn't get the drive shaft splines to align with the clutch. It's a difficult job especially without an assistant. I tried to keep forward pressure on the trolley holding the engine whilst slowly turning the flywheel hoping for forward motion when the spline was in the right position. On the tractor there are two sets of splines - one for the drive shaft and one for the PTO and both have to be correctly aligned. It took over an hour of trying before eventually "pop" in they went. The PTO levers were moving and the PTO rotated so I tightened everything up and reassembled. I turn the key and it's still blocked! After putting aside suicidal thoughts and wonder if the battery is a little flat after all? Its 7pm and time to call it a day. I take the battery home with me to charge.

Day 4 - Tomorrow is another day. I put in the freshly charged battery and try to start it....still blocked. The PTO is stuck fast. Damn. After much head scratching Nanou my neighbour arrives ( he works in the local agricultural workshop). He too agrees that something must be blocking the engine and it can only be the PTO. He suggests just slowly parting the engine and clutch from the tractor to see at what point everything frees up. Whilst he goes home for breakfast I do this and find that 1mm of separation and everything turns any less and things quickly jam. Nanou returns and we try to wiggle/shake whatever is causing the block free but nothing will work. So teardown number 4 ensues. We split the tractor and inspect everything again taking measurements shining torches to look for contamination...nothing. So together we put the two parts of tractor back together (quicker to get things aligned with two). We tighten the bolts and everything seems to be free. So Nanou leaves me to reassemble so that I can try to start it again. I just connect the essentials - no need for the accelerator, the fuel tank and battery are just sat loose and the fuel and hydraulic filters are just hanging from bits of wire. I turn the key............SUCCESS!

When Nanou returns he's happy but is at loss to understand why it was blocked before. The modifications to the flywheel nuts has worked and the clutch is quiet and smooth. Another 2 hours to fully reassemble, zip tie cables and hoses neatly and reverse the accelerator cable as I ve had enough of lying under the tractor trying to rethread and block it - now this done at the engine end where it's easier to see. One of the bolts securing the starting motor gets cross threaded and strips the thread but fortunately a cut down new bolt cuts a new thread and all is well.  

Moral of the story....Never give up.

Tractor problems

Tractor tear down to get at the clutch. There are horrible sounds coming when the clutch is depressed and they can't be ignored. Likely cause was the clutch throw out bearing. My local repair shop couldn t fit me in for a least 2-3 months and I daren't think of the cost! So after eventually finding the part in Italy (Argofrance were as usual totally unhelpful) and my neighbours at Pinsou letting use there garage, I embarked on the installation.

Day 1 - Roll bar off, indicators off, mudguards off, battery disconnect and remove, starting motor remove, fuel lines disconnect fuel tank remove, primary fuel filter unbolt, hydraulic hoses x 3 disconnect, accelerator cables x 2 disconnect, electric connectors disconnect, hydraulic filter disconnect, jack up tractor, support engine on trolley, unbolt engine and wheel away! prise off old clutch release bearing and install new. Reassemble (reverse of above) and re-adjust clutch. Start tractor and the noise is still there!!!

the lady sawn in half!

clutch throw out bearing around the spigotted drive shaft 

Day 2 - repeat the dismantling above. Take clutch apart, inspect. Possible sources of noise:

1. damper spring is a bit loose and shows signs that it might be rubbing on some bolts holding the flywheel on.

rubbing on one of the clutch plate damper springs

2. The PTO shaft (connected to the flywheel) runs inside the drive shaft (connected to the clutch). When the drive shaft stops because the clutch is pressed the PTO shaft continues to spin and there is rust on the latter which could be causing rubbing/noise. Strangely there does seem to be any bearing between the two just a bit of grease. 

I ll have another look in the morning, but I m guessing fixes for these two minor ailments might resolve the frightening sounds

PTO shaft inside drive shaft

 

Marsh tits on the sunflowers

jump

Partial eclipse

drop

A bite on the arse from a great tit

Still an alternation of storms and hot sun here, I ve had some discomfort as a wisdom tooth has decided to join my other molars. First the ache and bruising as it ripped it's way through my gum and now the jostling of tmy other teeth to make room for the new neighbour.

Triage

about a third of the triaged white wool

With a lot of wool for Susie to wash card and spin we thought about trying to have some of it done mechanically "out of house".  There is a mill about an hours drive away in Niaux. We sent out first batch of wool there to be washed about 7 years ago but were not happy with the results as it came back felted. I think ouessant wool being very fine, felts easily if not treated carefully. We washed our white fleeces soon after shearing but then found out that Niaux will only spin batches of at least 50kg into yarn - equivalnt to about 120 ouessant fleeces! We have 12 white and 12 brown/black. We eventually found a number of smaller mills in other parts of France but because of the equipment used, won't accept washed fleece.

Niaux have no minimum for carding, so we decided to give it a go on the remaining white fleeces. First we needed to do a third triage to eliminate any remaining vegetable matter, coarse or felted fllece. The fleces are already triaged at shearing and before washing. Three enormous sacks of white fleece weigh just 7.5kg. The triage took us about 7 hours and eliminated about 1kg. 

Now we have to wait for the results. Meantime there are the brown fleeces to do.

Susie is keen to try putting coats on the sheep to keep the fleeces clean and unfelted...we may try a couple.

Cagateille circuit

Another break in the weather and another escape to hills, this time with Al and Breezy. The Cirque de Cagateille circuit (Etang Hillette - Etang Alet) is an old favourite. 1200m height gain and opportunities for a dip en route. We expected it to be busy but we only saw a handful of people all day. We were above the clouds once above the tree line (in the valley it was overcast all day).

A small group of Ibex

the descent with cables before Etang Hillete

Elevenses at the huge erratic boulder above Etang Hillette

Etang Alet

After the swim and a relaxed lunch

starting the descent with Pointe de Rabassere in the distance

 

Mine de Mail de Bulard from Luentein

After a couple of cloudy days better weather tempted us into the mountains again, this time to visit the mines below Mail de Bulard, nicknamed the maneater.

An exceptionally rich seam of silver bearing zinc and lead was discovered at the top of Mail de Bulard in 1868.

Nine workers were employed to build the barracks with dormortories and canteen, with the necessary materials being transported by donkey from the valley. A forge was also built on site. A further twenty-two workers constructed the 600 m of access way across the face to reach the coveted seam in the middle of the wall. A single wire acted as a handrail and each year, more than 150 miners worked the mine. Mining began in 1901. The shifts were 10 hours long with two days off a fortnight and mining was only possible from April until October.

Miraculously, only 3 people fell from the mountain including the blacksmith, but those wounded in the galleries, accidents from blasting, etc were not recorded. The extraction was done on six levels between 2500m and 2700m and the ore, first evacuated by the "Decauville" system (rails and trolleys) ended up being transported by cables and skips to Bocard d'Eylie far below at 900m. Between 1901 and 1919 more than 60,000 tons of mountain were removed. to work in the mine de Bulard, the most famous in all the Pyrenees was the best paid but also the most dangerous. Lead poisoning killed many. In August 1919, the man-eater was closed.

We started from above Luentein and after traversing through old beech forest a long series of zigzags got us above the tree line.

Looking down on the zigzags

We continued to climb more gradually and on making the Cap d'Espallau we finally emerged from the clouds.

Valier and satellites behind La Montagnette and Pic de Cornave

The climb to come with Mail de Bulard dominating the green crete de Mont Ner

A path at a comfortable gradient made pleasant work of the Crete de Mont Ner and eventually we joined the route of the cableway from the mine to Eylie, with abandoned and toppled pylons. More zig zags before traversing left into the cirque that contains some persistent snow and the mine.

Eylie far below with Pic de l'Har ane Pic de la Calabasse in the distance

The cirque with the mine

The face that was mined still festooned with cables

One of the higher mine openings at the far side of the face

After crossing the scree and reaching the old barracks we had our lunch behind the canteen. A couple of cavers had set up camp opposite and we watched them set off across the face and disappear into one of the first mines.

Starry saxifrage

The descent was hot and susie and I both got burned in the sun and wind. A grand day 1120m ascent and 15km.

telephoto shot of two walkers descending the narrow north ridge from the summit

 

Tour de Pic Nerrasol

It seemed like the rain and storms would never stop, but then suddenly the heat arrived!

A trip was planned to somewhere outside of the Couserans for a change and with an early start we headed for L'Hospitalet pres d'Andorra. As the name suggests very close to Andorra and about 90 mins from us. A beautifully hot day and all new scenery. We were glad for the early start as by the afternoon the heat was energy sapping.

Once we'd escaped the traffic noise from the road to Andorra we followed a hanging valley passing several dammed lakes which after the months of rain and despite the droughts of recent years seemed almost full. Orchids carpetted the hillsides.

We stopped for an early first lunch at Estanh de Pedorrés, where baby trout nibbled at our toes in the cool water. From here we turned southwest to make the col at Porteilla du Sisca (2440m).

Rocky bluffs below Pic de Nerrasol

Etang du Siscar overlooked by Pic d'Escobes 2746m

From the Porteilla a new view opened into the Siscar valley with Etang du Siscar below - our second lunch spot.

Pic de Regalecio dominates the Porteilla 

The Etang de Siscar has an old dam either partially completed or later demolished as it only stretches halfway.  A gentle descent through a reedy wetland eventually leads to another dammed lake before a steep descent to eventually complete the loop. 15km and about 1000m of ascent

The emblematic Pyrenean Lily