Retention basins also need cleaning!

I have always been intrigued by the “dam” in Les Marécottes never really knowing what it’s function was, until after having walked around it yesterday and seeing the SBB/CFF signs and thus realizing that it belonged in part to the Swiss train system I became even more interested.

Turns out that it is a minor retention basin for the lower electrical complex in Vernayaz, one that in turn is linked to the whole Emosson hydrology complex.  The dam at Emosson collects waters from several different mountains and rivers in both Switzerland and France. As the Swiss train company owns part of it, it gets it’s bit first then the remainder is divided in between France and Switzerland in equal parts.

Anyone interested in the more technical aspects (and who can read French) will find this link of great help: http://www.hydrelect.info/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=1389

All that because when I took a quick walk late yesterday afternoon I noticed that half of it was empty and the other half very low: I had to go and see and as best I could deduct they were cleaning the silt from the bottom of the basin. As this water accumulates unfiltered and by the difference in altitudes it is easy to see that there would be silt, just didn’t realize how much!

And the ubiquitous shopping trolley… no matter where one goes, there was someone to dirty the site.

Full moon and sunset

Of course the blog – and photos – from the 11^th referring to the full moon turned out to be incorrect: the full moon wasn’t until – appropriately – Friday the 13^th.

Weather conditions were not clear enough to see the rising full moon, but the sunset was even more spectacular – like it was using its own spotlights.

Serendipity or…

Those magic moments, which sometimes happen due to a happy set of circumstances.

 

moon rising through the sunset - direction Mont Blanc

Last night I was lucky enough to enjoy one of them: a good friend returned from visiting her sister with her dad – who will turn 92 next Tuesday – and invited me up for an informal meal. Out on the back terrace a slight breeze, cloudless skies and no direct sun we enjoyed doing a comparison taste-test as to smoked salmon: Norwegian or Scottish? Looked different, but the textures were the same: one smelled smokier, the others' smokiness came at the end of the bite. It was a toss up we decided.   

Chat ranged from everything to nothing, from the absent children (and her spouse currently on a business trip: tourists are known to do 5 countries in 5 days, but some businessmen have to do the same: we certainly had it better), to siblings, to world events then back to food – nothing solved, no big complaints, just an exchange of information and the best of senses. Sparkling white wine, a delicious fresh bread, salted butter – a repast for queens and kings, which is how we felt in the moment.  The entire thing topped off with a crème brûlée and the rising full moon.

 

Couldn’t have planned it, couldn’t have enjoyed it more than we did!

Taking it easy, if only for a day.

Sometimes one just needs to take the day off on a holiday!                     

Having never had a full-time 9 to 5 job I really have also never known the pleasures of a true vacation or a day off where one doesn’t even think of the office. Of course there have been many other advantages: the possibility of working all the hours of the day when one has a project to finish; the possibility of working on a Sunday or holiday then taking off a half-day in the middle of the week; one is never bored as always somewhat aware of “keeping in touch with the client”.

But sometimes, very rarely and thus all the more appreciated, I have been able to convince myself that since the rest of the world isn’t working, that I don’t need to either!

Yesterday was such a day: Whit Monday to the British, Pentecost to the catholic European countries, my American friends have no equivalent, but then we have no President’s Day either so things even out.

I left my mountain retreat after a quick walk in the forest: summer has struck with a vengeance and so suddenly that most of us were unprepared – hard to get in the hot mode when you have had the heat on the day before! Anyway walked early as the only option and even then it was already 27°C (80°F) at 1’100 meters (3’600 feet) just before 9 a.m.!

Yvorne, VD, Switzerland

On my way home stopped to have lunch with a friend in a small Swiss town known for its white wine: Yvorne.  Couldn’t believe that I had actually never even driven through it although it is well known in wine circles, but I hadn’t.

Found a lovely terrace, had a lovely meal as there was a slight breeze and good awnings then meandered leisurely along the French side home.  A great little holiday: must try it more often.

Entry to Yvorne, Switzerland

Very appropriate decoration at the entry to Yvorne

Notice the seafood in honor of my relatives who are fishing in Alaska.

The carpaccio of beef was just as delicious looking.

The other “locals”

Up in my mountains I am somewhat less sociable than at home (only have a couple of friends up here and several acquaintances, but the coffees, lunches, dinners and in general fun social life that I enjoy at home takes a back seat as I recuperate from said social life).

On my many walks I have learned to look for the “other” locals – and if it’s about a living creature these would be my companions.

Sunsets

I have seen the sun set many times in my life – and even knowingly observed it more than once. 

I have seen it set over the Pacific Ocean

 

Little River Inn, CA 2011

I have seen it set over the upper part of Lac Léman

 

Clarens, Switzerland 2011

 I have seen it set over the Mediterranean

Argelès, France 2011

I have seen it set in Iceland

Iceland

I have seen it set over the Baltic Sea

Poel, Germany

but none of those were more beautiful than the sunset down on the lake in front of my house the other night!

Léman Lake, June, 2014

Une histoire d’amour…

Les Marécottes et moi.

 

 

On dit que « le bonheur est dans le pré » (Jules Jean Paul Fort dans « Le Bonheur ») mais pour moi il est aussi sur les sentiers, dans les rivières, au vu des montagnes qui entoure une petite station Suisse en Valais : Les Marécottes (souvent décrit comme Salvan/Les Marécottes). http://www.valleedutrient-vallorcine.com/

Il y a 37 ans depuis que j’ai découvert Les Marécottes: mon mari et moi (enceinte de 5 mois!) avions accompagné une amie qui connaissait le coin.  Cette première fois nous sommes monter à pied depuis Van d’en Haut au lac de Salanfe; avons dormi à l’Hôtel de l’Avenir et avons mange une fondue à l’Hôtel du Mont-Blanc.

Nous sommes revenus seuls et après avec enfants.

Nous passions au moins une semaine ici toutes les années: j’ai continue seule après le décès de mon mari.  Au bout de deux ans j’ai commencé à chercher un petit coin où je pouvais louer à la saison et suis tombée sur des propriétaires adorables.

Je reviens maintenant pour la saison d’été : je navigue au gré de mes invités à la maison, de petits voyages ainsi que lorsqu’il y a trop de personnes à la maison. J’ai amené de bons amis : c’est un havre de paix et d’air frais.

myrtilles

une des nombreuses fontaines

fraises sauvage