The trip moves ever closer

and I wasn't able to train at all last week, though I did try a few times. There's a nasty cold going around work, and, of course, I caught it--sniffles, cough and all. I still have it, but I will survive. And, heck, I was still able to out hike my room-mate on Sunday. Though I did discover that trekking poles have other uses besides balance. It seems that when you are out on the ridge with nothing but rocks way down below you and the trail under your feet decides it's time to go for a run down the side of the hill a trekking pole can be very useful for bracing you up against that rock face you just dove into to keep from joining that over enthusiastic dirt that is now bouncing off the rocks below. Funny thing is I wasn't at all frightened, though my room-mate apparently was. He was behind me. I just reacted instinctively, evaluated my twisted ankle and sprain pinkie, and continued on. And then I forgot about the incident until my roomie brought it up to a friend at dinner. But now that I look back on the incident all I can think is that I was very lucky and that some adult, way back when I was a stick thin, gangly limbed little toe-headed brat, must have managed to drill something useful into my head afterall. I'm often accused of being too stubborn to take advice, so that is quite a feat.

My room-mate now has his first technical daypack. It's a little large for the particular trek we will be on, but it will do. He had a great deal of difficulty choosing between two different packs. I did find the pack he decided not to purchase (on the cute girl at the registers advice) on sale for approximately half price in a color that is no longer made, but that I think he would approve of. I just might pick it up for him. Mainly because every hiker needs more than one bag, and also because I think it's design will be better for the short trek we will be taking. Of course, the ultimate decision of which pack to take on the trek is his. So he has his shoes. He has his pack. Now he needs his cloths and all the other fun stuff useful for the trip.

It's time to make our shopping lists and final purchases.

Latest trip info

Well, we ran into a little bit of a scheduling problem with our pet sitter, so we will adding a few days to the front end of the trip and subtracting from the tail end.

This vacation will begin in Switzerland, Geneva to be exact. We will also visit Lausanne and Chateau de Chillon in the nearby Vaud. Then a quick train ride to Lyon France, arriving in plenty of time to meet up with a friend fresh off his flight from the US, and spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days together before heading off to Annecy, then off to our separate treks.

Then immediately back to the US, via Geneva airport, after the trek.

Another Possibility

and one I probably would not have found on my own since I was restricting myself to the Rhone-Alps area and, for some silly reason, had not considered looking just outside the borders.

Perouges is a beautifully preserved and still lived in medieval city about 30km away from Lyon. I may not have found it myself--a friend did--but it is a now a definite on my list of possibilities, if for no other reason than the photographic opportunities it offers.

And while I was researching Perouges, Lyon and Annecy, I came upon yet another photographer, Carole Devillers, who offers the opportunity to dreamers like me to travel and improve your photography at the same time. I've never actually tried one of these photo treks, and there are many photographers and companies out there that offer them, including National Geographic, though I have wanted to for some time now. Timing and expense are usually the road blocks that stop me. Barriers are meant to be broken, and one of these days I most certainly will.

France again??

Definitely add Vienne and St. Romain-en-Gal to the list.

And possibly Bourg-en Bresse.

It's not easy to find detailed information on a lot of sites that look like they might be interesting. There are a few nature made sites that look nice, but since we will likely be travelling by train most of the time, they are probably not practical. Besides, we'll be spending much of the week following our touristiness popping in and out of nature's realm.

So, at the moment, the list contains the following::

Lyon, Vienne and St. Romain-en-Gal, Bourg-en-Bresse, Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, Annecy and Geneve.

That may actually be more than we can fit in, depending on when we arrive and how bad the jet lag is.

Anyone have any more suggestions of sites to see in the local area??

There is the possibility of meeting up with friends who will also be travelling in the same area as well. What a coincidence. Spending time with them so far from home can only make the trip more memorable. :-)

So where in the world is Zara Elis??

She's at Westercon in San Mateo, CA. Photos and updates coming soon.

More on France

Lyon area in particular.

We have decided to take in the Lyon area and possibly Annecy before the trek. And maybe a day or to in Geneva afterward. Ok, we don't have our hotels or flights yet. It's time to get those set, and very quickly.

Here's a great link for seeing some of the sites of Lyon and area.