Alpine Bridge 10th -17th January

A few images from my annual trip to Champagny with Alpine Bridge.  Met my friend Amanda for coffee and lunch at Hammersmith.  Accommodation at the YHA Euston and had a walk around the new development at Kings Cross.  Finally managed to take a photo of the new roof at Kings Cross.

Looking down from the first floor

The new roof

Reflection on a pile of bricks through the rain

View from the viewing platform

Steps down to the canal

Arrived safely at the resort.  I decided to go second class on Eurostar as Premier was no longer value for money.  Apparently the food was a lot better than it has been but I think second class gets my vote.  On the first day out we met someone who said this day was the best it was going to be as the forecast was for snow and no light.  Little did he know.  We had lovely days skiing even on the day of the snow and challenging light.  On Friday, Champagny was surrounded by snow and mist.  A few people decided not to go out until it cleared.  The few of us that made it to the top and over to La Plagne, skied in the sun with brilliant snow conditions.

Group shot on second day.  From left to right, David, Trevor, Lorne and Earl

David took this one of me!!!!!

Earl, in front, Lorne in the middle and Ron in the background

Trevor in the front, Lorne turning away, Ron and then Earl

Icicles from the restaurant which used to be a great pancake house but has been taken over by mainly meat restaurant (with good salads) in 1950 Les Arc

Cloud cover spotted by Trevor

Husky team spotted from the chairlift

Trevor skiing down

Chairlift into the sun

Trevor

Lorne

David crouching down, Lorne, Mike with orange hat, Lorne and David

A better one of me

This might be a Christmas card

Next holiday is Burma in three weeks.  I suspect there will lots of images from there.

Isle of Lewis for the Leaving Home exhibition

I was hooked on photographing the inside of croft houses during one of my many trips to Lewis so I was very interested to see the Leaving Home exhibition by John Maher and Ian Paterson.  Unfortunately, it was at the Arts Centre in Stornoway, some way from Taunton, Somerset.  I decided to go and see it so drove up to catch the ferry on 29th December and arrived home on 4th January.  The best B&B in Lochganvich was fully booked so I stayed at the Tower Hotel in Stornoway instead.  Not a patch on Ghinda but adequate and comfortable.  I partook of a lot of hospitality at Ghinda with some delicious meals and a few Scrabble games.  A few snaps below of the trip.

Reservoir between Inverness and Ullapool

Monday and a walk around Stornoway.  This means Peace and Quiet

Lunch at the Woodland Centre and a walk around the Castle grounds

Stornoway

Reflection of Clipper Ranger

Stornoway harbour

View from Castle grounds

Lost glove

Resident heron

A trip to Dal Beg in the rain

Dal Beg

Callanish

One of the seven stags in Peggy's garden (neighbour to Jenny and Murdo)

View from Ghinda

Micky boy on his walk by the loch

The 7am ferry was cancelled on Friday due to the high tides and winds.  Caught the 13.50 - a choppy crossing but not uncomfortable.  Had to book in to Premier Inn at Inverness though as we didn't get into Ullapool until 6 pm.  Easy journey back to Somerset on Saturday.  I managed to see the exhibition (www.leavinghome.co.uk) three times - the trip was definitely worth it.

Off on the usual ski trip with Alpine Bridge on 11th January 2014.