St Gervais-les-Bains

13-15 September

Clear white light

We belatedly discovered that the site we had earmarked in St Gervais-les-Bains closes on 15 September so for speed we opted to drive from Etroubles via the Mont Blanc Tunnel and tried not to dwell on the cost! Despite the hills and hairpin bends, John assured me that the drive had not been too bad; I could confirm that the scenery around Mont Blanc was breathtaking!

As we pulled in to the site (Les Domes de Miage) I was gobsmacked. We were met with large open grassy spaces and views to die for. Perhaps we had arrived in paradise!

Plenty of space!

View from our pitch 

While we relaxed during the afternoon, a single hen pecked at the grass around us and would not be shooed away. John remarked that he was surprised that the bird had not been made into coq-au-vin (or should that be coq-au-van??)

The main reason for the visit to St Gervais-les-Bains was to ride on the Mont Blanc Tramway. There were four good reasons for getting up at stupid-o'clock so that we could ride on the first train at 8.30 am; one, to benefit from clearer weather; two, to avoid the crowds; three, because there was a bus from the site at the appropriate time; and four, to benefit from a discount on the fare for the first train only!

Happy chappie waiting for arrival of the train

So by 9.45 we were sitting outside a tiny cafe/walkers' refuge overlooking the Bionnassay Glacier at about 2400m above sea level with no other person in sight. Hot chocolate has never tasted so good!

Hot chocolate time!

It was awesome, and so peaceful, except when a helicopter flew by, strangely below us. It was quite chilly until the sun's rays peeked over the mountains to the east and then it quickly warmed up.

Bionnassay Glaciier

25% gradient of the Mont Blanc Tramway

We broke the return journey to St Gervais at Col de Voza for a short walk and picnic lunch.

It appears that we have used up our sunshine allocation for the moment as there was heavy rain overnight, so we may be able to justify bringing the waterproof jackets after all.