Has anyone seen our pool?

Here's a couple more photos for you and a quick game of compare and contrast. One of the (many) nice things about the apartment is the open air heated swimming pool in the garden. Open for use throughout July and August, it's a great place to head for after a day on the hot dusty trails and grab a few rays and a nice refreshing dip.

L'Androsace and the swimming pool in the garden.

In the last few years, Health and Safety legislation has caught up (it's not just the UK!) and the co-proprietary has had to erect a fence around the pool. It's not too bad, and it doesn't really detract from the informal pool side atmosphere. Though, it is quite high - as you can see in the pics.

Mont Blanc and L'Aiguille du Midi down the valley make for a stunning backdrop to your swim.

However, it does seem to have suddenly disappeared! Here's Sam stood on top of the fence last week having dug down a bit to find it.


Told you that there'd been a lot of snow! And this is after the fresh snow of the previous week has settled and compacted. It's by far the most snow we've seen lying in Argentiere.

There it is!

Every day is like Sunday...

I'm not one for lists of favourites, but if I did then "Every day is like Sunday" by The Smiths would be high on my favourite songs list. And today I've been thinking wouldn't it be good if indeed every day was like Sunday. In particular, this Sunday.


Today I have mostly been...

Rising at a leisurely hour and taking a short stroll to my favourite boulangerie for some viennoiserie and a crusty baguette.

Catching the train to La Flegere (no worrying about taking the car and its free with your resident card or card d'hote) and then the telepherique. Walking with the kids on previously unexplored trails with stunning backdrops and cool shade back to Argentiere.


Picnicing in the sun while taking in the views. Foraging for a feast of blueberrries and wild strawberries by the trail side.


Enjoying Cafe Gourmand (you've got to try one to know!) at the Dahu.

Leaving the kids to play in the pool while taking the bike up to Lognan on the last telepherique of the day and ripping up the Lavancher descent. Getting back to the pool within the hour and jumping in!

Filling the corridor full of curry fumes and Brit Pop classics as my French neighbours arrive. Entente cordiale and all that!

And finally popping a cork on a wonderfully cheap bottle of plonk and watching the sun set over Mont Blanc.


Bring on tomorrow...

Summer is coming - hit the pool!

The summer season is pretty much here in the Chamonix valley, and some great news for fans of outdoor swimming pools. After a complete makeover and a prolonged period of closure, the open air pool in Chamonix is due to re-open in a couple of weeks time.

Chamonix pool? Who needs it when you've got your own!

The new facility includes a 50m pool, a second smaller pool with massage water jets and toboggans and a paddling pool with water games for the kids. Look out for the official opening on the 11th July. With the indoor pools as well, it's going to be a superb facility whatever the weather and I'm sure will see a few mid afternoon visits from us on the way back from an energetic walk or bike ride.

Of course, when you've got your own pool in the garden it does kind of spoil you!

For details of more summer news including the latest on the development of more mountain bike routes in the Chamonix Valley and the Nissan Outdoor Games click this link for the Chamonix Summer Newsletter.

Chamonix Swimming Pool

Popped down to the swimming pool in Chamonix the other day. A nice break from 2 full weeks of skiing. And what a pleasure it was!

Coming up for air

Every week back home I try and get a half mile, maybe even a full mile, in at the pool in Fort William. But its a drag. Its an 18 mile drive to the leisure centre in Fort William and as there's only lane swimming available in the morning session, it inevitably means a crack of dawn start. But its good to get the day going.

So whilst at the pool with Sam & Jodie I popped into the big pool to try and sneak in a few lengths. First thing you notice is that the water's nice and cool - at 27 degrees, its 3 degrees cooler than the leisure pool. Next is the clarity of the water. With the sunlight coming down through the glass dome above, there's perfect end to end vision.

And then there's the view. Coming up for air on the outward leg, the view through the window is of the Dru. And coming up at the turn is a huge vista of the Aiguille Du Midi and Mont Blanc through the glass wall. How cool is that! Stunning! A far cry from the dark winter mornings back in Fort William!

If only I lived in Chamonix I'd swim like a fish...!