Chapter 47: Not much to report / Pas grand chose de differents.

Not much to report except that it's been raining for the last 4 days. We might see a bit of sun tomorrow. For sure, the pics surrounding us will be wearing a coat of white. It get seriously cold at night.

My shoulder is still bothering me. I made a lot of progress but all seems to stagnate at the moment. A bit frustrating. Anyway, I am still optimistic that it will be ready to go for France. That is in two and a half weeks. Wow, time goes by so fast.

Pas grand chose de nouveau en Suisse. Ca fait maintenant 4 jours en ligne qu'il pleut a boire debout. On nous annonce un peu de soleil pour demain. Quand les nuages se disperseront, on devrait voir du blanc sur les pics qui nous entourent. Il fait serieusement froid la nuit.

Mon epaule me fait encore souffrir et meme s'il faisait beau, je ne pourrais pas grimper. Les progres furent tres rapide au debut de la rehabilitation mais actuellement, le tout stagne. Un peu frustrant mais bon, qu'est-ce que je peux faire d'autre. Je reste optimiste et espere que le tout sera rentre dans l'ordre pour la France.

Chapitre 46: Happiness at work - Des gens heureux.

Voici une photo du chantier de construction pas trop loin du camping. Des gens tres fier de leur profession de travailleur de la construction. Les gars sifflent, sourissent et saluent les automobilistes au passage.

Sur l'heure du diner, les gars se font du B.B.Q. et entretiennent leurs 'jardin'.

This is a picture of the construction site not to far from are campground. The workers very pround of their profession. They are always smiling and saluting people driving by.

During lunch time, the boys are cooking on the B.B.Q and take care of the 'garden'.

Chapter 45: It had to happen...

Little riddle this morning:

When a climber is on the road, what is it that is harder to accept then a week of rain, happens when it is beautiful outside and makes minutes feels like hours?

Then answer: An injury.

I have to accept it, there is no other way around it. My left shoulder is very unhappy about it's working condition. I had to say, it's been pulling overtime since January. Of course, it complained a bit through the last six months but I decided to ignore the requests. At the moment, it is impossible for me to ignore the protest. It hurts, even at night.

O well, I remain optimistic. The plan is to get better before the troops from Calgary get to France for the final assault in Fontainebleau. I found an awesome physio who accepted to help me rehabilitate. I'll keep you posted.

Joined are a few pictures taken in Zurich.

Finally, here a super cool line that we found. We always walk right pass it. Last time around, we gave it a second look and decide to give it a go. So good.

Chapitre 45: Y fallait bien que ca arrive...

Petite enigme ce matin:

Pour un grimpeur en voyage, qu'est-ce qui est plus difficile a accepter qu'une semaine de pluie, se produit toujours quand il fait beau et transforme les minutes en heures?


La reponse, une blessure.

Je dois me resigner a accepter que mon epaule gauche est tres insatisfaite de ses conditions de travailles. Faut dire qu'elle a fait du supplementaire depuis la fin janvier. Bien sur, il y a eue plusieurs protestations tout au long des dernier six mois mais bon, j'ai fait que la sourde oreille. Actuellement, il m'est impossible d'ignorer ou de faire la sourde oreille: Ca fait mal, meme la nuit.



Bon, Je garde le moral. L'objectif est de guerir avant que les troupes de Calgary debarquent en France pour donner l'assault aux blocs de Fontainebleau. Je me suis trouver une super Physio qui m'aide dans ma rehabilitation. Je vous tiens au courant.
J'ai join quelque photos prisent lors de mon sejour a Zurich.



Ca, c'est Fay. Gros bebe gatee.

Chapter 44: Grab it...

Sorry for the late post, I spent the last few days is Zurich desguised as a tourist. Nice city with old history. In the beginning of the 20th centurie, it was culturaly, technology and socialy one of the most advanced city if the Europe. Somewhere between St-Peter's churh and the University, someone came up with the idea that every child should have access to free education. In one of the side street, Lenin was brewing the Russian revolution while a few doors down, Voltaire and his friend were cooking up the French one. The University librarie was the biggest of it's kind and the train station had no rival with its 6 train tracks departing for all destinations.

It is fantastic to be here, in Magic Wood, in Zurich, in Europe, in South Africa. It is fantastic to be on the road. I am overwhelmed by the amount of people that I meet, the experiences that I live each day. We all come from different countries, have different cultures, ways of doing and dialect. Each place has something to say, a part of history to tell.

With my left shoulder chronically un-happy, I am aware that my time here will soon come to an end. I do not know what life as planned for me in the future but right now, my van is my home and it is a great place to be. I cherish every moment whether it is spent with friends laughing, playing giant chess game in the park, bouldering in the Woods or reading inscriptions on status and monuments.

Till next week.

Chapter 43: Un peu de tout...

Ca fait maintenant 4 semaines que je suis en Europe et je ne me suis pas ennuye une seconde. C'est tout comme si je venais tout juste de debarque de l'avion a Amsterdam. Le temps passe tres vite. Au rythme ou les choses vont, j'irai tres bientot chercher mon frere a l'aeroport Charle de Gaule a Paris.


Plus qu'un mois en Suisse. Ensuite, destination la France. J'y aie beaucoup d'amis - que j'ai rencontre on the road - qui m'y attendent deja. Encore une fois, on ne devrait pas trop s'ennuier.

Je suis encore a Magic Woods et je n'ai aucune intension d'aller voir ailleur. Les lignes sont toutes exceptionelles. J'en decouvre de nouvelles a chaque jour. Tellement que j'ai opter de diminuer le niveau de difficulte pour pouvoir en faire plus. J'avoue que la fatigue commence serieusement a prendre son compte. Avec le temps qui s'evapore, je suis loin de prendre le temps de repos necessaire. Aujourd'hui, j'ai bien tente d'alle faire quelque blocs mais il n'y avait rien a faire. J'ai due m'avoue vaincue et rebrousse chemin jusqu'au terrain de camping.



Je reviens tout juste du feu de camp ou des Autrichiens jouent de la guitare et chantent a s'en arracher les poumons. Les heures passent comme des secondes sont le charme des notes et du feu qui danse. Meme si le spectacle est quotidien, on ne s'en lasse jamais.

Il semble que le ciel n'aie plus d'eau a nous envoyer. Ca fait cinq jours que le soleil brille et on en profite tous. Les journees sont chaude mais les nuits tres froides, autour de 5 degres. Demain, je m'en vais m'acheter une couverture supplementaire, peu importe le prix.

Chapter 42:We have power!

We have power! We were finally able to trouble shoot the problem with the car lighter. The solution involved dismantling an entire dash board with an Swiss Army knife, getting a stronger ground, welding a new fuse and burning a few others in the process. The welding part was my favorite: Red heating a flat head screwdriver till it was hot enough to provide a second or two of melting capabilities. Three hours and a thank of propane later, we were ready to put everything back together.

This place is getting busier and busier with each passing week. It seems like the entire Europe is on vacation. Climbers come from everywhere. The Woods can easily accommodate all but I can't say the same about the campground. People have to pitch tents in the parking lot. With so many around, here are a few observations.

About Mullets:
They are back, in Europe anyway. It is the new fashion, specially in Spain and Poland. Cool! It is kind of a renaissance of the 80's and Wayne's World. One Polish guy - witch sadly left this morning before I could take a picture - pushed the envelope by combining a mullet with dreads. Yes, I know, it is hard to imagine but you can do it. Short on top with the long stick in the back...

About dreads:
Have you ever seen a dog with dreads?



About recycling:
I would expect Switzerland to be more incline to it then any other nations. After all, they monitor everything from consumption of clean water to waste water, gaz, electricity and garbage production. But we don't recycle. Nop, all goes to land fill, shame.

I owed you a few videos so no more of me and more bouldering.



Here is another. Nop, this is not Squamish.