Walking Under Paris

Three or five major targets for the day - our third full day in Paris. We cut the day short to about 11 hours of walking and visiting given that we are leaving for Corsica tomorrow morning.

The key destinations were; the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Catacombes, the Cimetiere de Montparnasse, the Partheon, and the Catedrale St-Genevieve... well all this was also accompanied by walking through the Latin Quarter.

All were great but the Catacombes were particularly weird - 6 million parisins are buried there from the last many centuries... walked a few of the 250kms underground sometimes in mud, we took the guided tour with a very opinionaded french guide, he was very funny and added so much (off) colour commentary.

Grandiose and breathtaking are the words that come to mind. More spectacular architectures, monuments, statues and neighbourhoods.

Except for a blister (I never get them!) which I have to make sure heals in the next two days - things are great.

Later - Simon/Julie

Streets of Paris

A 14 hour day of walking, in the streets of Paris, is a great way to get into the time zone. We started off with the all important "petit dejeuner" of cafe au lait and croissant. It was reaaaal gooood (I think only made of butter). The Pere Lachaise cemetary was filled with history and tourists, a very worthwhile visit.

Lunch at Buddha Bar, and more walking Place du Concorde, Jardins de Tuleries, Louvres, Pont Neuf (Bourne Identity memory), Ile de la Cite, Eglise Notre Dame, Ile St Louis and a fitting end with a beer on the square near Pompidou plaza watching people play the harmonica and walk by (Marais District, 4eme Arrondissement).

Thru all this nothing short of stunning architecture, monuments and fabulous sights. Love the people using their parks and having heated conversations in the coffee bars. Worth a mention are the variety of smells one encounters such as sweat, cologne, bakeries, and unfortunately refuse...

Having a spetacular time! Cheers - Julie and Simon 

Paris in the Summer

After a long anticipated wait Julie and I are in Paris... I'm typing from a strange keyboard (who knew that the French keyboards were different)!

Long uneventfull flight, a lengthy wait for our luggage, a very long journey in the train/metro since our metro line was under maintenance the day of our arrival. if that's the only glitch we're doing fine...

The weather is spectacular in the 30 degree range and we were happy to walk a loop including the Victor Hugo Place with a very impressive Art Deco entrance - these are the little things that make Julie gitty (I'm a lucky man).

Anyway, the loop also included the small points of interests such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the little known circle with the statue of the Duc d'Orleans - it's actually right in front of our hotel and was transplanted here in 1980 from Algeria were it was erected in 1845 (Frances long history in Algeria).

I've figured out how to pull pictures in at the hotel!

Cheers - Simon and Julie

Albert Edwards - #6 on Vancouver Island

Longweekend in August meant an opportunity for a mountain on Vancouver Island. Albert Edward is the 6th highest on Vancouver Island and a real gem.







A nice three day excursion but what a surprise to see nothing but snow from Helen MacKenzie Lake onward! We were prepared with crampons and snowshoes but still - it was the August long weekend!







Mostly a slog with a few steep climbs on corn snow. The group did well, July and I continued our training for the GR20.




For your information - here are the top ten peaks on the Island:

Rank	Peak	Metres	Feet
1.	The Golden Hinde (1993)	2,197	7,208
2.	Elkhorn Mountain (1968)	2,166	7,106
3.	Victoria Peak (2009)	2,163	7,096
4.	Mount Colonel Foster (1978)	2,135	7,005
5.	Rambler Peak (2003)	2,105	6,906
6.	Mount Albert Edward (1925)	2,093	6,867
7.	Mount McBride (?)	2,081	6,827
8.	The Comb* (GR017055) Highpoint 1km north of Golden Hinde	2,069	6,788
9.	Kings Peak	2,065	6,775
10.	Rees Ridge (Mount Celeste*) Highpoint on the Aureole Snowfield	2,045	6,709

Castlegar / Nelson Area

Nice to spend time with a nephew and my brother in a spectacular spot. of particular interest is the Kootenay Glacier Park and Valhalla Park - a must for mountaneers out there... Julie and I will be visiting both parks next summer.

Still training and getting close to our departure date - packing done, adrenaline pumping - GR20 here we come.