Source Cachat

The Tour de France had the individual time trial yesterday and I am remembering the time we did our own three day ride around Lake Geneva. It was 14 yar ago and the first of our Swiss lake circumnavigations, the second one being Lake Constance.  They showed the drinking fountain and the Evian source yesterday.  We rode into Evian Les Bains a bit late but spent some time in the morning looking around before riding out.  The cachat gate was closed but at least I saw inside via yesterdays drone this time.  

Castle de Chillon

smoke on the water

a fork in the lake

source cachat

Curlewis Ride

 These mouth and tongue stitches have been a pain and the dentist hoped they would stay in place for at least three days.  On the fourth day two of them pulled out rather suddenly. This was becuase they kept getting caught in her teeth and this has loosened them out. However the whole area is much more relaxed now to the point where we tried a ride in the cold.  Curlewis has a north facing balcony cafe, so we made that the target for an out and back ride, probably no more than six kms.  I don't like the magpies there as they are persistent and since I got swooped the other day I am on the lookout. 

a big plus for tea in a teapot

Low Tide

 I went across with the shot and saw that a gang of interlopers, who were just out for a stroll, had sat themselves down on my cleared sand patch.  I busied myself at this end by filling in some more of the dugout which I can only do a bit at a time with my improvised spade. I thought the group may have moved on by then but I cleared it so well.  This turned out better for me as I tried the otherside of the groyne. Hard packed low tide sand makes such a difference. With this better surface I am sure I got it further out there. So this will be the new approach if I can put in my order in for a calm, sunny period, coinciding with low tide at around 10:00am every morning. Thank you and no squishy jelly fish in the way either. Landing a shot on a dead jelly would not be good. The hazards of beach shotting.

the landing zone all consistent on hard pack

The Pirate Returns

 Went across to see what's up. I started filling in a huge hole that was dug a few days ago and just left there for someone to fall into. I am using a drift board as a shovel so it is a slow job.  I was destracted by tyre marks where some rev heads had driven down to do wheelies in the sand but I needed the rest.  All the while this was happening, the pirate had pulled up, dropped anchor and got the dinghy and the dogs overboard for a quick ride into shore. I have observed and featured him a number of times on this blog. When he pulled up I said "you don't usually come in Winter."  I can tell you he leads a hermit style life but aboard a boat that is mostly moored across the bay and has done so for the last 15 yar.  He got up saw the day was a beauty and headed over to this side.  He is also an ex navy man who was interested in my observations of the navy comings and goings at the long pier. I think two dogs on a boat, especially greyhounds, would need a lot of trips to shore.

wheelie big twacks

Ride with Bomber

A sunny calm day presented itself so I got the bike out for  a slightly longer ride. Along the foreshore heights I could see the diggers down below, once again trying to keep the boat ramps clear of piled seaweed.  I kept a steady pace and decided to go down the main drag to get back. I don't do this to often and now I remembered why when the swooper swooped. It must be at least two yar ago when a bird sent me crashing into the gutter. This is exactly the same place, as I could see the same barriers looming as I was under fire. Three times it came down and it must be the same bird for I have read they can recognize people from a long way off.  I was not going as fast this time and backed off even more. So I let him do his thing which was thudding against the helmet.  It has nothing to do with protecting young in the middle of Winter, this one is just a bit crazy.

boats beware of rocks, weather and tractors

Dental not Gentle

 There have been persistent mouth issues as a result of medicinal side effects. It's time to look closer they said. We'll just poke around they said. As two holes are made in Debbie's mouth, one in the gum and another in her tongue that one with yet more stitches. These are turning out to be quite abrassive as the tongue moves. So it will be a liquid diet for the next few days.  What chance of there being no talking on the phone as well ... no chance.  Ah I have just noticed it is a sunny day. I am going outside.

Crown of Orchids

 We are on a two day hospital tour, one day for a visit and the second day for an apppointment. Tim is looking like the medicine is kicking in. We missed the head shaving ceremony and that's fine with me since I lost most of mine some time back. We have not been to Willie for a month or so which was always the plan and some work was done on the orchards here prior to that and it has paid off.  The new position has seen an explosion of growth with maybe ten sprays of flowers in all directions.  The book police will be onto me here as there are three books I have had for many weeks and the head librarian lives just across the road. The replacement electrification of heating, hot water and hotplate is all working well. We might now apply some of this to Clifton Springs.

Mary's door

St Vincents view