China, Asia, Climbing and Fixed Gear Bikes

We spent some time on the highway via Saint-Etienne to Clermont-Ferrand.

We went to the major French site „Puy de Dome“ which is the highest of the volcanic mountains in the Auvergne.

From the Puy de Dome summit there is a good view of Clermont-Ferrand.

But the wind was very strong at the summit. It felt like we were being blown away. It helps to be a rock climber and able to hold ourselves on the fence.

By coincidence our friend Manu was accompanying a helicopter test flight (once in 2 years) and they were headed towards the Puy de Dome. So we waited in the cold wind trying look and listen out for a helicopter. Finally we saw them.

He was sitting in the back and waved at us. Unfortunately my camera is not so good, but you can see the guy with the white shirt.

A bit later we met with Manu and he took us to a magical fountain. The water contains gas that is released from the water and as there is a kind of natural siphon structure it erupts about every second when enough gas has gathered.

Val and Manu have bought a very nice old stone building that they have been renovating for some time already. It is getting more and more beautiful. In the evening after having some ham from a full pig leg we went to the inaugural concert of the Harmonic Orchestra of Clermont-Ferrand. They played various classical and modern pieces.

The weather was beautiful today. So we set out hunting for mushrooms in a forest near Lyon. It had been quite moist lately in this region but despite searching in vain we only managed to find 3 old ones. So we had to find something else for dinner.

The guys went to play some tennis and the girls (Nanu and me) went inline skating.

We continued on to the Chartreuse Mountains to a small village called Le Cirque de Saint-Meme. At the beginning of the short hike was the first small waterfall.

But hiking up brought us into the clouds. The forest became foggier.

When we arrived at the 3rd waterfall it was hard to see it at all. It must be more impressive in the spring time when it hass more water.

But it seems to be quite moist here most of the year as some trees were completely covered with moss.

At the end of the hike there was a short moment that I could see the actual cliffs of the Chartreuse mountains peaking through the clouds.

Annecy is a nice small town. It is located on a lake that is perfect for sailing.

The old town center is very beautiful. I had a picture taken the Chinese style.The idea is that the person isin the center covering the building of interes almost completely and having the hand in the typical V sign.

Here is another picture of the town historical island from the other side.

It was very nice to see Sandrine and Seb again after such a long time. Unfortunately they were too busy with work and their new apartment so they could not join us for any outdoor activity. Maybe next time we meet again 🙂

There are quite some ruins of castles in the Vosges mountain range between Germany and France. We went to see the ruins of Castle Landskron (Chateau du Landskron) in the Alsace.

This castle had been built at the end of the 13th century by the Muench of Basel.

The were many wars fought around the castle and it had changed from being possed by different people. The main destruction of the castle happened in the beginning of the 19th century and it had remained just as ruins since then.

From the top of the castle there is a great view over the Rhine valley looking into the direction of the city of Basel.

Also the Vosges mountains in the North and South are beautiful.

And it was a beautiful day to be outdoors.