We have noticed a weather pattern here that has become more frequent in the last few weeks as daily temperatures in the valley have risen to well over 30 degrees. The pattern is for blue skies in the morning, then hot hot hot as the humidity rises and then in the afternoon or maybe evening you get a spectacular thunderstorm show. Sometimes followed by amazing rainbows. It is great to sit out on our balcony watching the fork lightening and bouncing rain (sometimes hail) whilst feeling the growling thunder rumble through your body.
We have been lucky not to have been caught out too badly so far but have had a couple of close encounters……
Last week we went for a walk to Lac de Sassiere which at the end of a really steep valley (filled with cute marmottes).
As we got to the furthest point of the walk the threatening skies came true as thunder and lightening started. For our 45 minute return walk it seemed to come close then fade away into the distance, only to return again soon, but only an odd spot of rain. We got in the van and started to drive back to Bourg Saint Maurice and suddenly drove into rain that was bouncing down. All the waterfalls were gushing with fresh new rainwater and every shelter was filled with motor bikers and cyclists. We saw one cyclist start to try to ride down the road and we waited around the next hairpin bend as he teetered around the corner in water about 5cm deep. We offered him a lift in the van and I have never seen anyone accept an offer so quick. I jumped out to let him in the back of the van with his bike and in just the 1 minute that took I was absolutely soaked – my clothes, my hair, my socks and shoes – wow! Back in Bourg 10 mins down the road it was lovely and sunny and we released the poor Italian guy from the van (with no windows he may have started to regret his readiness to jump in). Turned out he had been sheltering from the storm for over an hour which is why he’d just given up waiting. Later that night the storm arrived in Bourg and rained off an open air gig we had planned to go to.
Then there are the days when it looks a bit cloudy and threatening in the afternoon but it blows over and no storm materialises. Last Monday looked like one of those days so I walked to the swimming pool in the sticky hot weather. I paid, got changed and walked out to the 50m outdoor pool just as they had closed the roof on the 25m pool and fished the last person out of the outdoor pool. The rain was bouncing down and the indoor pool was now absolutely chocca. I got changed back into my clothes, asked for a refund and, for the first time, took the free bus home. With its roundabout route I think I could have walked quicker – in fact, if I’d waited for a bit more rainfall, I may have been able to swim home!
Today after a homemade waffle breakfast (for Pete’s birthday) we went mountain biking in La Plagne with the BOB (Berks on Bikes) group.
We were having a great time in the bike park, whizzing down the hard packed runs and nice berms …… and then came the rain. We did two runs in the rain and the nice red we’d been loving just turned to slippery clay. It was a bit sketchy to say the least. Then the lifts closed for lunch and the rain continued.
A subtle hint to go home and get on the birthday beers!
