Six kilometres from our final French village, Pontarlier, seemed like a good plan so there wouldn’t be a long strenuous day to finish with tomorrow.
Climbing steeply out of our valley home was a great way to start the day. While it is harder and longer than normal, for us it is more enjoyable as there are or may be, little surprises waiting round the corners and there is a need for greater concentration. Around one corner was another long steep climb which was an unexpected surprise as the book didn’t mention it.
But now the biggest surprise – a hydro electric power station, which often means lots of water and strong flowing streams to transport it. Our magical 2 hour rain forest walk took us up along the very busy river Loue. The whole journey was backdropped with that stunning moss of varying ‘shades of green’.
The track was mostly around a metre wide, roller coasting along the edge of the stream, then it would go directly up, steep and slippery, rocky and leaf covered, then down just as steeply. Never really close to the river, but about 30 metres up with the river nearly directly below.
Walking across a small waterfall’s rocky pathway was only made possible with a small railing, then it was over and between large rocks, the vista always carpeted green. Past collapsed parts of the huge rock face away from the river, gorgeous rocky outcrops made their own creative designs.
Another waterfall, but bigger and falling on the large stone steps ahead; no railing this time so we concentrated totally on our footing and pretended the water was not there. As we walked we had a continually changing river landscape below.
Waterfalls of all sorts making their own designs, swirling between and folding over, rocks of all shapes, jumping into pools and sandy sidings. Fallen moss covered trees gave yet another perspective while the still standing ones displayed bunches, and moss spiralled up others.
Later, an impossible climb became possible thanks to a cable bolted into the rocks, while my balance problems required intense concentration to ensure I kept momentum going forward, while Corrie used similar tactics to persuade her tired knees.
Eventually we reached the source of all the excitement and rested. Soon we found a bus stop shelter for lunch before yet another steep climb, this time on a dry wide road surface and through a plantation forest. Finally it was down, and a small shower reminded us of the ever threatening storm.
Into our village for the night but there was one more surprise to come. The hotel that we reserved our room in, was not in this ‘6 kms from Pontarlier village’ that was carefully planned, but coincidentally back about 6kms and off in another direction. Getting good at quickly repairing our web, we now set about finding this place.
Meanwhile the storm decided this was the moment to finally catch up with us and began to let loose. As our reluctant ponchos were preparing to finally be of use to us there was the sound of an angelic horn.
An older man leant out of his van and asked us where we were going. Our ponchos quickly regained their customary position in our packs’ side pocket, which were thrown into the back while we jumped up front with this lovely man. We drove off, with the rain pelting down, persistent in its desire to finally catch us, but it was too late.