Hiking around the Vallée, Rock Climbing and a Good Life in General

[Callie Shevlin]

Well, here we are in JUNE, I can't believe it is here already... June (juin) is my favorite month, and the 21st in particular.  The summer solstice is great and I love to get up with the sun and go to bed with the sun so I have a long day on the 21st with plans for every minute of sunshine (assuming it doesn't rain, but who am I kidding, I have back up plans as well).  

Here is what I get to see most mornings!

So for those who were at SNAG, I am so jealous and happy that you all had a grand time (my facebook tells me everyone had so much fun!) I wasn't able to make it this year due to unfortunate circumstances with my job, but will definitely try for next year as I miss my metals family terribly!

I have been a horrible "blogger" the last 6 weeks, mostly because I haven't remembered my camera but am rectifying that now, and my camera is now also tied to my wallet, literally.

The Vallée de Joux is well, a valley.  I have hiked up one side (towards Geneva)

and the other side (to France) and a few weeks ago, went up the back side (towards Neuchâtel) and THAT is where all the vallée de joux post card photos come from!

A few weekends ago, I met up with some friends from Neuchâtel and we all did our first big climb of the season at an indoor wall called The Bloc.  It had been 8 months since I climbed at ALL, but did alright.

Jeremy is climbing and Emelie is belaying. These walls were about 10-14 meters high! 

Anton is on the left and Matilda is practically upside down while bouldering on the middle structure. This was my first bouldering experience, no harness (and not very high) and it was interesting.  I also learned how to lead which is exhilarating and I want to do more!

Matilda, Me, Anton and Jeremy after climbing, still smiling! (not so much the next day for me).

Matilda, Jeremy, Anton and Emelie after climbing, time to put away all that gear.

I am finally getting into a routine; which, if you know me, is what I need to thrive.  I do rock climbing with some local friends every Monday after work, running every Wednesday and Friday morning before work with a friend, hiking every weekend.  I love schedules (and order).  

This last weekend, Matilda, Anton, Miho and I hiked up Creux de Van, a bit north of Neuchâtel.  It was MUCH harder that the mountains here in the vallee, but I had fun and at the top, we had delicious snacks of chocolate, fruit and carrot cake.  

Matilda, Anton and Miho at the top!

The ridge was traversed.  We hiked up one side that was super steep, then down a less steep side (good call).  The views were amazing, and the picnic was great as well.  

This weekend (sadly is at a close) was beautiful on Saturday and Milla and I walked to the lake a few towns up and lay in the grass and read and got some good sun, my first of the year.  It was absolutely perfect, the weather was 28 degrees and people were on the lake water skiing, paddle boarding, wind surfing and sailing.  We stopped at the Hotel Bellevue for some sorbet and then continued home.

At the end of the nice day, I decided to move my studio to a substantial bedroom and the guest room to the smaller room so that now is a dresser and bed, but a window is all you need here.  

Today was Rhubarb day.  I made a rhubarb compote to top my bread pudding and Milla made rhubarb white chocolate muffins.  We all met up (Milla, Lauri, Jaakko and I) and did some furniture assembly, MacGyver watching (YES, the one from the 1980's, the Finnish folk love it as do I) and tea and rhubarb overdosing (no such thing).  

I will be much more on top of the blog so that you can all travel around with me.  Next up, Basel on the 15-17th of June to meet with Sarita (a friend from last summer at Arrowmont), then Phil Poirier is visiting me here the 18th-20th of June (he is my Guilloché mentor and good friend) then it's Barcelona to meet up with Liana in July and England in late July.  August will bring family this way and September is birthday month, and I will be hang gliding or para gliding, not yet sold either way particularly.  

Ciao Ciao!

[Brigitte Martin]

Rhubarb is the best. Try it warm with Vanilla Pudding sometime or over ice cream.