Artist dessert in the Alps

Arrived in Chamonix and sorted accommodation and potential for work...decided to find  about the art world.
Walked into a he only gallery in town and realised that the painters had one over on me....they were dead and very expensive....so I quietly sloped out of the door without any further enquiries. Think the market is the place for me and I'm sure that I'll fill the gap in the 'market'. Sunny day tomorrow so will do some painting in town and see how the land lies as far as interest.

Can't wait to set up and paint next to a local café and ...then have a coffee!

September 16th to 18th

Monday up early despite the happy hour malarky!!! Off to estate agents. Found a really nice 25m2 place with washing machine/dishwasher/proper hob. Gorgeous pics. Started off at 750 euro, quickly dropped to 620 so arranged viewing.  Cycled out prior to the viewing. Too far out of Chamonix!! Damn. Dave being ultra sensible and talked me out of it so went back to cancel viewing. Price dropped to 570 but still had to say no :( Went to another pre-arranged viewing at 2pm. Tiny studio but right next to Savoy lift. Great balcony and am sure if it stopped raining great view. We commented on size so price dropped from 550 to 500, with the pending ok from owner. Result. That is good for Chamonix.

Went to sno-station where needed letter to say about work in December. Dave chatted to Tom in adjoining office about work for him, looking good. Then mentioned that maybe we could go on local radio to talk about our "journey" and then they looked and felt the weight of my bike with the gear on. They were well impressed at what we had done. Made me feel even more proud of achievement.

So all fitting into place. Got the OK on the Tuesday but the lovely Dominique wasn't able to sort it there and then (as I soooo wanted her to) so we are back in the Gite/hostel at the moment, but will be in by Thursday 19th, 4pm. Excited!!!! Booked flights home now sorted, and hopefully may be getting cheaper lift to Geneva on the 3rd and maybe able to sort return cheap lift too. Website called cham serve networks accommodation, jobs, lifts and just about everything!!!!

Photos below are of the happy hour frenzy and what I look like drunk (that should stop me drinking really) Will ban use of camers instead!

September 15th

Just establishing all the potential places to rent in town. Rainy day unfortunately or would have gone for a cycle. Love planning and researching. May well take on the place Siobhan has offered to give us breathing space. We shall see.

oh my lord what an evening dave talked me into  happy hour and then we went to a place full of Lancaster people!!!!!  the guy who has worked on my bike and someone Dave taught in college. Mental!!!!!

September 14th what a day!!!!!

Cold night and morning so internet search for hostel required. Found one, not too expensive and kitchen facilities, so all good. Warm shower to defrost then into town. Due to see Siobhan at sno station at 2pm so had a look round town. Saw accommodation in an estate agents so did a check out and have lined up viewing for Monday.

Then off to see Siobhan. Job sorted!!!!!! Start in December. Dave offered job in chalet but even Siobhan identified that perhaps not for us. Small studio and not really enough time for skiing opportunities. Prob going to have a look at the chalet though to truly make decision. Siobhan also offered us reduced rate property for the interim CFO at least the next month, so couldn't have asked for a better meeting.

Then off round town again checking out further estate agents. Into century 21 who are known for season aire accommodation and before we knew it we were viewing a place, right in the centre of Chamonix sud, opposite cheapest bar in town (not altogether a good thing). All going pretty fast!!!! Place could be ours if we wish.  Pretty good day. Will sleep on it.

Lancaster crowd in the Alps

Here in Chamonix and out for the happy hour...bumped into an ex student and the chap who sorted our bikes in Lancaster...bit crazy and a little worst for wear after session! Tomorrow will sort accommodation and then flight back in a couple of weeks. All looking good for the winter season and looking forward to painting over the next few days....if ,you are looking in Dad...see yo in the the Stonewell Tavern for a Thursday afternoon session, and look forward to the jazz!

September 13th St gervais to Chamonix 28km

Gorgeous day to travel to the ultimate destination of Chamonix. Felt a bit nervous as it stood to reason it was going to have some hills. Not a great start when we cycled onto a motorway again!!!!! Too easy to do it at times. Dave had to lift the bikes over barriers twice good job his side is much better :/!!! Once on right road, yeah some pretty steep climbs but manageable, must be getting pretty strong in the old legs. Amazing views of Mont Blonc at each turn so made it all the easier. 3 hours of cycling and then we arrived!!!!! Good that immediately it did have the great feel that we remembered previously. Still buzzing with people and the sun shining.

Searched out sno-station but Siobhan not there but advised to pop back later and some-one else there. Time for coffee and then popped back and chatted to a guy called Rick who got really excited when Dave mentioned his trade. He spoke to Siobhan and  arrangement to meet tomorrow. If this works accommodation could be included. Then we went to accommodation place, where as well as sussing out potential places if required more job offers in potential. So all good really. We then went to Youth Hostel but  expensive for what it offered so back under canvas for us. Quite a eclectic mix of people here, bit of a political conversation going on as i type, luckily the Israeli/Palestinian question being handled by an earth politician :-)

September 12th Albertville to St Gervais 32km

Swiss couple from two nights back hailed us in the morning. They had spent two nights there and joked about bumping into us in Chamonix. Set off thinking get to Megeve and if up to it onwards to St gervais, with a night in a hotel. Cycle route to Ugine and then a big long climb out of it through a deep valley. About 10km in total climb. Coffee in Flu met and something to eat, getting cold, cloudy and a bit rainy today and into the skiing zone. Another 9km to megeve and feeling good so onwards to St gervais which is as lovely as we remembered. Sussed out a cheap give and after an hours wait managed to contact proprietor and booked in. Like q youth hostel really, use of kitchen etc, the proprietor had an unusual manner, and kept checking that things worked as he showed us round, but it is a bargain at 15 euro each, so all in happy. Out for some beers then back later for pasta supper.