The most pointless street light ever
Can you see what’s hidden in that tree? It’s a street light. Does it shed much light? Not really. So why is it there? Its past is steeped in a great rumour that the local French property owner here in …
Can you see what’s hidden in that tree? It’s a street light. Does it shed much light? Not really. So why is it there? Its past is steeped in a great rumour that the local French property owner here in …
The sleepy village of Saint Jean de Sixt has the chance of becoming a sporting mecca, for France’s favourite sport can now flourish here with the introduction of two new petanque playing fields. Or can it? The two new pits …
Living literally on the other side of the world, France really is a long way from my roots in Australia. Modern technology helps reduce that distant feeling, letting me stay in touch easily with family and friends. But when I …
As the season in La Clusaz draws to an end this Sunday — ending with the Defi Foly competition and hopefully good enough weather for the BBQ not to be needed as an outdoor heater — something else in La …
Okay, this one is a bit downhill, but there’s also some fast uphill and huge thrills. It’s tandem speed riding. Single-person speed riding is still a relatively new sport in the paragliding family of sports. It involves a wing about …
This icicle appeared outside my window last week. Icicles look still, but as you can see from the time-lapse in the photo, they’re constantly on the move. This one shifted sideways as well as growing substantially throughout the day. My …
Pictured here is Fabien, climbing a cliff face in Thônes. This is unusual in that the winters here normally aren’t cold enough for such a massive display of icicles to form in Thônes. Fabien, always keen to get his adrenaline …
Following on from alternatives #1 and #2 (cross-country skiing and snowshoeing), today I look at the ski ‘resort’ of St Jean de Sixt. “How is that an alternative to downhill winter sports?”, you may ask. It’s a fine line, but …
After I survived the physical workout of cross-country skiing, and with a Christmas guest who didn’t want to ski, I went snowshoeing in La Clusaz on a sunny, warm day in late December. Not just any old snow-shoeing. No. I …