Mont Blanc

Today, is a walking trip for all! Meet at 9am, that's 9 in bold print, for all those cyclists, who might feel that walking is an inferior past time compared to the serious business of Tour de France!!! At 9.10am sharp, we embark into two vehicles towards the poster picture perfect ski town of Chamonix.
To qualify for a group discount,12, not being nearly worthy of the title, we would have to hi jack another 8 unsuspecting tourists quietly digesting their morning degustation of croissant and cafe. Fortunately for them, we were having trouble containing our own troops let alone, organising a well structured pre-meditated attack.
Desbecker? check. Hunt? check. Troops ready and primed to hot foot it in one fell swoop, onto the gondola...... three, two, one shuffle forward and voila, mission accomplished. Everyone of the group with a window position, and a full view of a messy death if a cable were to let rip.
The trip up in the gondola, was, i have to report, without incident, but the view was terrifyingly breathtaking. As the ground rapidly retreated, the majesty of the mountains became unavoidable, and we were all pulled into the thrall of the magnificent skyline.
Released from the potential carnage of gondola wreckage, and consequent BBC World News coverage, (my kids might never have known), we walked alive and well onto a platform and viewing area(complete with shop and cafe) that i can only describe as being completely too civilized for the wild grandeur in our presence.It felt disrespectful, like viewing a lion in a cage or a chained elephant doing tricks, but knowing that only a few steps beyond this 'safe' area, mother nature was in charge, and respect was paramount.
The lookout area was a massive feat accompli,and erected in 1958 by some hardy souls, and for all my misgivings, I would never (not being anything other than a recreational walker)have experienced this wondrous place.So "thankyou" for all of your hardwork. When our bare legs could stand the arctic chill no longer, we re-grouped, well nearly, and made our way to the mid station for the start of the walk to the train. A well-managed track , made for a beautiful traverse across the alpine terraine, a glacier and so much more, (though, the whistling marmots were illusive)! Back in Chamonix, a beer, a picnic and a head count, Robina?check. Di?check. Lyndsay????