We’re Hiking Now
Up-do for short hair. It goes by many names. The Pebbles, the quail, the unicorn, and when Madison was a child, she had two and they were her fountains.
Martigny to Orsières
Via Francigena #9 of 20
You’ve heard of a three dog night? Well it’s a four OJ morning. Which means it’s also a two cappuccino breakfast.
Musta been the two beer dinner last night.
I break out the unicorn up-do for today’s hike. Sandy took one look at me:
“Trying to sway the goats, aren’t ‘cha?”
How’d he know?
It was indeed a nod to the goats. I did a nimble footed save at a restaurant yesterday, with an audience no less, after tripping on a large umbrella stand that was the same color and composition as the concrete it sat on. I almost did that thing gymnasts do when they stick a landing, but I couldn’t tell if the looks on the faces of the locals were because they recognized how narrowly I missed calamity, or because I came into the cafe in my backpack-trekking outfit. They looked horrified.
Sandy and I have been discussing how to categorize this particular aspect of the trail which is the infamous crossing between Martigny-Croix and Sembrancher. Consider the source, and that my Happy Place is standing on my hands, but I think about a third of this trail would be best with both feet AND both hands, in gloves, on the ground. It reinforced my “never walk alone” feelings because Home Alert isn’t going to find you up here. And, if you have a fear of heights, for God’s sake don’t look off the sides of the trail.
Its is our best day hiking and I’m starting to hit my stride. I’m not even close to being able to lean on my forearm, like you do a million times a day unless you can’t, but you don’t need an elbow to walk.
See photos with captions below.
©Theresa Elliott, All Rights Reserved
We walked through a remarkable market on our way out of Martigney.
Why photos are not always the truth #1.
Looks pretty swell, ya?
Why photos are not always the truth #2.
Without cropping.
Interesting stairway placement.
Think about this staircase . . .
Bouldering on moss. This really would have been easier with well equipped hands. But check out the way sign! They were remarkably well represent and easy to see (gold diamonds) in this pile of rocks. No ambiguity here if you were on the trail.
More bouldering on moss. Sandy navigates with the GPX tracks to double check. Can you see the way marker?
O.M.G. You can’t be serious.
JK! There was a left turn 10 feet up off this insane hill, with a much more forgiving path running along the side.
Sweet.
Pharmacy in Orsières.
Street in Orsières.
I wonder how many lawn Rumba’s are tending this hill?
Lots of woods today, including this route that is a close approximation of the path Napoleon took to invade Italy in the early 1800’s, hence the name that can be seen to the left on the yellow placard.
Kindred spirits of the Orange Traffic Cone.