Finished up the Alps…now back at Blancardy!

After several days of bad weather in Courmayeur we were never able to climb. But on the bright side, we had a lot of fun at Parco adventuro, the Roman spa, and conquering the professional eating tour…it was great! After Courmayeur, Rach and I finished off our little side trip with a day and a night in Chamonix. We hit up the Fete de Biere, and we had a wonderful dinner at the cute little restaurant in Argentiere that Aurelien’s girlfriend runs…it was magnifique.

Parco Adventuro…maybe not the best idea for someone with a fear of heights.

Team Parco Adventuro….Rach, Papa Burks, Jacapo, moi, and Fred Arne

A stop at the Italian butchers….for wine and sausage. Jacapo’s friend Geppo hooked us up…it pays to run the family business.

Some girls hope for diamonds on their birthday….but not Rachael. All it takes is a PBR to light up her face….a PBR smuggled all the way from the good US of A.

After five warm-up courses, the main plate of seafood finally arrived during Rachael’s b-day lunch. I thought the first one was our meal, but oh how I was wrong. It was a four hour feast. I thought our second course of shrimp was our dessert.

Italian toga party.

The Americans bringing sexy back with the Sprinkler…the Italians weren’t too receptive.

It’s not quite the same space as a fancy American SUV.

We left Chamonix, and after five more hours in the rental car, and few missed exits along the way, we made it back to Blancardy at one in the morning. It was nice to be back….our home away from home. It has been a good week of the usual….a little pool time, some wine bottling, some vineyard work, a glass of rose here and there, and a lot of really good food. To make it even better, yesterday was a full day of the moto through Cevenne, accomponied by a really cool swimming hole, the silk museum (the history in this region is really cool) and a surreal dinner….when I didn’t think it could get any better, it did.

Rachael and the Blancardy boys (Alain and David)…outside the Cevenne Musuem

Team Blancardy…sunning by the swimming hole

Our crystal clear pool….

Rachael and Kelly….American floaters…

pretty and bronzed…..

and graceful in the water…

The water at our swimming hole/picnic spot was ridiculously clear, and the temperature was such that even I’d swim. Nothing beats fresh french bread with a little pate for lunch….they even bought coke for me. Magical!!! The ride home was once again a beautiful tour that weaved through the mountains of Cevenne, one little village after another….the views were so mesmerizing that it almost hurt. I love the moto!