Tuesday 10th-
Well today was meant to be the last day of working before going on our much required ski holiday. Well I went in to work and lasted about 4 hours. I was feeling so sick it was unlikely I would be able to drive home, let alone to the alps. I went home got in to bed and was sick a few times. We then planned how Nikki would start the driving and we would see how I went later.
Wednesday 11th
Well I awoke to be feeling fine and dandy if not a little queasy. I therefore felt well enough to drive and set off on our way. With a stop in to Nikki’s mums on the way to check up on how she was and a couple of bacon butties, we headed off to the docks of Dover.
An uneventful crossing saw us land in France at about 7pm. We then broke the habit of a life time and just jumped on the toll road and headed for our pre arranged meeting point of Piney. The down side was being ripped off as a class 3 van at the toll booth because there was no manned booths.
We arrived at Piney just prior to midnight to find our travelling companions Lynne and Ash awaiting us. George & Harley finished watching the laptop and we began to go to sleep to catch up on what had been an exceedingly long days driving. We had left home at 0700am and arrived 15 mins before midnight, this was a long days travelling but meant we could spend a leisurely day on Thursday.
Thursday 12th.
I awoke and set off on foot for a quick shifty around the town of Piney and to look up the nearest bakers for some French croissant’s. With mission accomplished and managing to avoid the great big Doberman dog that appeared to want me for breakfast we ate our traditional French breakfast and then roused Lynn and Ash to get ready for our days drive. Our target for today was the wonderful city of Annecy. Annecy was about a 6 hour drive away and we would try to avoid any toll roads on the way. We drove through some beautiful areas of France. Namely we drove through Dijon and then on to Dole and Nantua before a short hop across to Annecy. On navigating through the streets of Annecy Nikki answered her phone. This turned out to be George’s year head asking why we had rang in sick for George? She informed that George had told all his friends he was off skiing. She was understandably pissed but hey ho with everything that had been going on in the past 4 weeks including burying your much loved father we simply could not be assed to go through the process of getting holiday forms and decided that we would just ring in sick for the time needed. Bearing in mind that George and Harley have not had a day off school previously it seemed the logical thing to do. Also they have completed full years without a day off sick. Still we will know for next time. It’s just we found the whole telephone conversation a little distressing.
On arrival in Annecy we found the last two places on a lovely aire and pulled up next too what was another Adria the same as ours. George then nipped out to play in the snow for a few minutes, on his return George managed to shock the French couple next to us and give their children a good laugh by getting the vans mixed up and walking in to the wrong van. Lynn and Ash came across for a little night cap and talk about the journey. George and Harley of course complained that we were too loud. We tucked in for the night and set about getting some sleep.
Friday the 13th
Shock horror it was Friday the 13th. OMG !! What a way to start!. Anyhow I got off in to the town of Annecy on foot and carried out a 5 mile walk by the lake. I then got out some cash and returned. Now I don’t know how cold it was in Annecy that night but on my walk about 7am the signs were saying it was -10 so during the night I expect it had dropped to at least - 15 if not lower. We got Ash and Lynn up and got set on what should have been a short hop to Pralognan. Several detours later for some LPG we arrived on site. It was as beautiful as we remembered, in fact no, it was even more beautiful than before.
We got the normal welcome from the site owners which is always friendly and we set our vans up for the coming cold weather. We then all set off to get some skiing in. The boys were back to their normal skiing selves and after a little practice I was soon hammering down the red slopes. However on more than one occasion I was forced to follow Harley off piste and down some really dodgy red slopes. A few crashes never hurt me! George was off on his own, it’s much easier him being that little more older to go off on his own and stay in touch via mobile. With the skiing etiquette you always know if something happens he will be ok,. Ash and Lynn appeared to be having a lot of fun down at the bottom re-acquainting themselves with their skis. With Nikki bossing them up the slope they appeared to be having a good time.
After skiing we got the bus back to the van, we then enjoyed some tea and a chat with Lynn and ash before getting in to bed. Unfortunately Ashe’s water had frozen and his satellite dish had packed up. Still you live an learn.
Sat the 14th
Well it had to happen. With me having been sick prior to travel our night was interrupted with a “ mum I feel sick” then in typical child fashion buuuurrrghhhh all across our lovely motor home. So all in all not a good nights sleep for us all.
On awaking on a beautiful crisp sunny morning poor George had to stay at home in bed and leave the skiing to me and the booga (Harley). We set off on the slopes and had a really wicked time playing in the snow. I’m quite impressed with how both of my boys ski but especially the Booga. He has so much confidence and a really nice style. The only problem is that he keeps dragging me off piste and down slopes that I really don’t want to go down. However I can’t let him go down on his own so I give it a go and I have perfected my crashing technique.
The temperature is now really starting to make things interesting. At night the temp is falling to about -20 or even as low as -25. This has led to the waste tank on the Adria freezing, despite having a heated waste tank. We are therefore now utilising a bowl to brush our teeth and to gather any waste water therefore preventing it going in to the waste. It is only the out pipe from the waste tank that is frozen so with any luck when we come down from the mountain we should be fine.
We popped around for a night cap with Ash and Lynn but due to being so tired from a hectic day of skiing we opted for an early night. George appeared to be feeling so much better and back to his normal self.
SUNDAY 15th
Well it was starting to become a normal routine. Wake up get dressed or trussed up like turkeys and head to the slopes. The sky remained beautifully blue with a biting chilling wind so cold it had the possibility to freeze spit as you spat! We headed off for the slopes with George coming with us on this occasion. We arrived nice and early today about 12-30. We then had a really fantastic afternoon of skiing if not a little tiring. Some great crashes were had by all of us and the trips down the red runs at much higher speeds than we were used to started to create a lot of fun if not a little apprehension. On one occasion the Booga boy managed to take his big brother George out by cutting him up at high speed. This led to a big pile up with a few snowboarders going big time. We casually got back up and sped back off down the slopes.
At the finish of skiing we returned to the site to enjoy the welcome drinks of hot wine and chocolate provided by the site owners. Nikki and I popped around for a drink of our own with ash and Lynn. The boys watched a few dvd’s before insisting that I come back across to the van to join them. I did so leaving Nikki in the capable hands of Ash and Lynne. This led to Nikki returning in the early hours a little worse for wear. This of course led to the normal “I don’t feel well” when will she learn!!!
Monday 16th
Well it was a little break from the normal today. No skiing for the boys, for today we took Ash and Lynn off for some sledging. We set off to the nice little toboggan area. This area is coupled with a nursery slope so Lynn, Ash and Myself had a little ski. More to give Ash and Lynn a few pointers really. It didn’t take long before George started to moan about being cold and cause his normal winging about wanting to go back to the van, just why are kids today so ungrateful??? Anyhow me and H stayed and played on the sledges for a bit longer before deciding enough was enough and we should get back. We hopped on one of those trains that is in fact a tractor pulling some carriages dressed up like trains. Still who cares it was free, a lot of fun and saved us having to walk with my skis. A night cap back at Ash and Lynn’s done the trick. Although this time it was me feeling a little worse for wear!!
Tuesday 17th
Tuesday came the news I had been waiting for. Ash would be accompanying me to the real slopes. I was dead pleased for him. With Harley not feeling well this time, It was up to me and George to show Ash how to get from the top all the way to the bottom. With Ash getting a little practice and me and George venturing on to more advanced runs whilst waiting.
After a little while Ash was ready for it. We managed to talk him in to coming to the top of the green run. Although the run is green, I can remember from my more inexperienced skiing days that the green run at the top can be a little steep. Also the Green run passes through a blue and a red run on its way. This can make it a bit of a challenge. However Ash in fairness gave it a go. It was a site to see but fair play to him he went for it. We then carried on through the run. I went off pist’e for a little bit keeping my eye on Ash. I stopped to help a younger that had crashed but then I could not catch back up with Ash whom was happily sliding down the Green run in a world of his own. However the Green run turns off and if you keep going you carry on down the red run!! Oh dear, I was shouting Ash so loud that there could have been an avalanche. All the Pralognan ski school were overtaking Ash on there way to the red slope, they could here me and started to shout Ash as well. Ash remained in his own little world until I managed to catch him up and stop him. I then had to explain to him the situation and he then turned back and started walking back up the hill. It sounds daft but I done exactly the same last year. This year I let Ash walk back up and I then attempted the difficult red run. To my surprise I managed it no problem if only a little slower than others. I think I have this skiing thing sussed now.
After I managed to relocate George I then set off to find Ash. Eventually he was located back at his van. Still in good spirits, but we settled for a early night and some family time to recover.
SNOW lots more of it. It snowed for hours, lovely.
Wednesday 18th
Slow to awake this am, Nikki and I walked in to the town to get some bread and croissants. The booga informed me that he would be coming skiing with me today. That can only mean one thing to a father. Both the boys can ski, but the booga whom is the youngest, seems to of taken to Skiing over the past couple of years like the proverbial duck to water. This means that he likes to go off the beaten track and down through runs that are off piste. We are always careful but the Booga is a better skier than me, he actually is quite good. He looks so balanced, so cool, and so in control of his skis. If only we lived in a ski area, I think he has missed his first vocation.!! Anyhow we spent the day skiing in what was gorgeous conditions, blue skies, warm temperatures and lovely soft snow. After my recent off piste performances I hired a set of skis that were for more advanced skiers. Just the job so much easier to control than my own skis. However this did not prevent me from having a massive fall on the steep red run. I hit a rut and did not control it, I then fell head first in to the snow and banged my head.
Following skiing, we then all walked in to town to source some tea. We ended up back at the van minus any. Plenty of nice restaurants but we only really felt like a burger and in this area of France it is obviously un heard of.
We then popped over to Lynn and Ash’s to have a little wine before retiring to bed.
Thursday 19th.
BRRRRR it was cold last night. We awoke to find our inside bedroom windows iced up on the inside. It was that cold I did not feel like getting out of bed. However I forced myself out to turn on the gas heating. We had not used much in the way of gas heating due to being on electric hook up and this of course then allowed us to use electric heaters inside the van. However un be known to us, Ash in a moment of building wisdom had unplugged our electric!!! He had a problem with his own and unplugged what he obviously thought was his, it wasn’t, it was ours!!!! brrrrr
The next problem to this beautiful morning was how I was struggling to get my head off the pillow. I think the accident I had on the slopes yesterday was far more serious than I first imagined. My neck was so stiff and I really thought I was in trouble. However with this being the last day to do any skiing I dosed myself up with pain relief and set off on to the slopes with both the boys. We had a final good days skiing and a bit of a laugh on the slopes. The boys continue to improve and I’m sure that I must be but my 40 year old brain now recognises danger and prevents me from following them, or it should do but doesn’t always, leading me to have to follow them on routes that I know I should not be on.
After skiing we returned to the van, the boys played with some French lads and started building an igloo.
The sad thing about today is that we have to plan how we are getting home. However against that is the wonderful advantage of being in a motor home. Why? Well because our journey home will remain as much a part of the holiday as the holiday itself. With a couple of mountain passes to do and an aire to stop at the holiday is far from over.
Friday 20th
Ouch, ouch, ouch, what a terrible nights sleep. All mine and Nikki’s glands have swollen up, our throats are real sore and we have colds. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Of course mine is worse than Nikki’s and is quite possibly likely to deteriorate in to full blown Man flu. A very poor nights sleep. Anyhow, with us all lightened of our euros we headed off on our adventure home. We set off to do a couple of mountain passes on route. We headed off via Annecy and across to Roussas. A beautiful drive where the mountains showed us al their glory. I know that the alps had had its best snow fall in 20 years but this was ridiculous there was just so so much. We headed off to Luxeuil les Baines Aire to get a good night sleep. Not a lot happened on this journey other than the great scenery. At night Ash and Lynn came across to our van to share a drink. Only 4 vans in the aire so nice and peaceful.
Saturday 21st.
Still in pain from this infection we set off on the worst part of the journey. With Ash and Lynn in tow we hit the free auto route. We left snowy France and hit Luxembourg. We popped in for some money making products but did not bother due to the poor exchange rate. However we did fill up with Luxembourg’s finest cheap diesel. We then headed through Belgium and then on to Calais. As we hit Calais Ash took over from me to locate Pidoos or something like that, some allegedly cheap beer stop. After a little detour or two or three, Lynn finally took control of Ash’s compass and found it straight away!!! We then settled in to a night at Calais aire. We said our goodbyes to Ash and Lynn and then headed off to the land of nod whilst awaiting the early morning ferry. After a few meatballs whizzing around until the early hours and some English in a pissed up transit van got on their way we managed a little sleep prior to catching the ferry. A short hop skip and jump later via Nikki’s mums and we were home.
So that’s it. Looks like we are all skied out for this season unless we get any more snow in Scotland before Easter.
So to summarise this trip-
We done 1800 miles from home to home, The van performed magnificently . I am so made up with it. The van gave us so much more space than what we had been used to in the CI. The layout was big enough to allow Ash and Lynn to pop around for a drink with out us feeling crowded.
The only small problem I had was a waste tank that had separated from the drainer meaning I could not get rid of the waste, initially I thought it was frozen but it hadn’t. Easily fixed once I could get and have a look at it. The van really is truly winterised throughout. With the temp dropping to -25 the van stood up to it. Yes we were on electric but even if we had not been the gas done a sound job, especially dealing with the cold nights at the aires with no electric.
We spent about £320 on fuel, returning about 23 mpg throughout although on some journeys we got 25 and others just 19 mpg.
The site cost us e270 for a family of four in peak season with electric. Ash only paid e200 for the two of them.
I spent approx £250 on lift passes and I skied every day with one of the children and on most days both of them.
£54 on the ferry
£00 on food because we would of spent that anyway if we were at home and we only had one Mc Donald’s.
We own all our own ski gear so did not need to rent that.
THE COST OF SPENDING QUALITY TIME ON THE SLOPES WITH YOUR FAMILY? PRICELESS.
So to finish off, we had a truly great time. We were worried a little about sharing our holiday with others we did not know very well, but in all honesty we could of not of found a nicer couple to travel and enjoy our holiday with. So thank you Ash and Lynne and I hope you had a good time too.
If you log on to the link below there is a short video of our trip.http://family.webshots.com/video/3093834740087373012UiwYGS?vhost=family
Also if you look at picture 4, full size it and have a good hard look you will see the Pralognan mountain goat.
