this week

It has been a beautiful week here. Running in the vineyards most of the week, watching the vines start to leaf and the baby sheep graze nearby, a great loop in the Aravis for some elevation, and finishing the week with a bike ride with Jess.

bike ride

Today I decided to go for a little bike ride, and after a bit of riding, pushing, and eventually carrying the road bike up steep trails, I ended up above Le Gralet in the Jura.

I stretched and rested looking out to the Alps and enjoying the sun. Then for the difficult part...coming back down. I love riding up, but I white knuckled the whole descent. I want to call it a 45km ride, but for about 2 hours of that trip, the bike road me. This is what happens when I try not to go running! Another beautiful (if slightly loony) day in the mountains. 

le tour stage 12

Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davézieux. We're caught up in tour excitement and decided to make a little trip to see another nearby stage of the race above Chapareillan, a small town south of Chambery, while the riders made their way up Col du Granier. We left early for the one and a half hour drive, and spent some time around Chambery before walking up to a good viewing spot on the edge of the Chartruese Reserve. The leaders passed by in a rush of bright spandex, and we headed back down for a picnic and an afternoon hike.

le tour stage 10

Stage 10: Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. Yea! The tour is coming through. Le Tour de France bring lots of excitement and caravans of followers. This year, le tour is passing closest to us in Bellegarde, just a 20 minute train ride from Russin. I arrived at the station and followed yellow streamers and shirts to the course where I met up with friends who had driven in early to stake a perfect watch-point 200 meters from the finish line. I joined them for an afternoon of catching candy and goodies from the caravan of sponsors, and waited for the rush of excitement as the riders approached the finish of their first mountain stage.

bike month

May was national bike month in the US. We may do more to celebrate Bastille Day than the 4th this July, but won't miss out on bike month. I celebrated with some road biking, and some longer trips on the old velo - like a 40 mile day to go to a brocante sale at a farm in Gex. Get out and ride! 

(photo taken at the Tour du France last year)

caves ouvertes

A fabulous day in the Geneva countryside- tasting the latest wines from our local wineries. Derek and I started off on our bikes to meet friends a few towns over, but got distracted by all the domaines along the way. We made just a few stops in Dardagny and Russin before making our way to Choully and Peissy.

Our first stop, Domaine Les Faunes, Dardagny where we did some sampling, Derek successfully completed the blind taste test, and we bought a bottle of aligote to take ride along in my bike basket.

Up the hill to Russin and continuing our ride through the vineyards. We made several more stops, sat in the grass to share a few bottles with friends, and started the ride back home. I can't think of a much better day, biking, friends, free wine, perfect weather...but being Swiss, the festivities ended and were pretty much cleaned up by 6 pm, good thing we started in the morning.

Ride home at the end of a lovely day. Already looking forward to next year. Santé.

paved with poppies

Today I rode my bike to a farm sale in Gex. It was a beautiful ride on quiet country roads between field of poppies. I had a few lucky finds, a faded French flag, a blue Danish bunt pan, and a big old jar to hold my wine corks. I stopped by CERN for a quick hello "on the way" home, and saw Derek's swank new office. I'll have to get some photos of this great new building overlooking the vineyard. My little adventure totaled 60 kilometers of riding for the day, but it was so nice I didn't realize the distance. Happy Friday.

tall grass

Looks like a great spot for lunch and reading a few chapters. The weather has been so sweet, perfect for picnics, and so I've been picnicking. I've settled into a few regular spots, just a short walk into the vineyard, but today I headed the other way with my bike and basket and a slow afternoon tucked away in the tall grass.