Le Grand Tour du Vélo!

7 weeks till Madagascar! 

Before we share about our weekend, a quick fundraising update, we're now almost 3/4 of the way there!!!  We are so thankful for the outpouring of generosity and partnership!

If you want to help us reach our fundraising goal, click here

Last week was the final week of school, not for us, but for the students who started in September.  

We had a long weekend so that the staff could have a much deserved break.  We threw around a few ideas for inexpensive travel options, and decided to do bicycle adventure!  Here's where we went:

Day 1:  Gerard dropped us off at a mountain pass called Col du Frêne.

 We biked down the pass, through the valley, and up a backbreaking pass called Col de Leschaux.

The first part of our bike trip was many kilometers of beautiful downhill road leading through pastures and mountain villages:

Nick found an off the beaten track swimming spot. The water was so clear, and cold!

Then we started climbing...

 And we continued climbing for several hours...lots of cyclists passed us...it took us a long time to get to the top of the mountain with all our camping gear, but the views were incredible!

We met a farmer on the road, and he gave us permission to camp in his hay field for the night.

The town of Saint Maurice happened to have a festival that evening- they had some great food, dancing, friendly locals, and a really huge bonfire!

Day 2: Down from the mountains to Annecy and biking along the lake

Day 2 we got to enjoy the downhill side of the mountain we worked so hard to climb.  There also happened to be a triathlon on the very same route we rode up the day before.

Seeing the cyclists working so hard made us feel better about ourselves- we made it up that hill with all our camping gear! :) 

 

 

There were some beautiful views of Annecy Lake on the way down the mountain!

 Campground near the lake for the night...

Day 3: Biking down the lake and back home to Albertville

 We found our favorite picnic spot ever! :)

One last jump in the lake before heading back towards Albertville

If you look closely, you can see the paragliders.  Annecy is one of the most popular/well known places in the world for paragliding.  

    On the bike path back to Albertville!

The bike path between Albertville and Annecy used to be train tracks, so it's nice and flat.

  

We made it back to Albertville!

3 days and 46 euros later, our first trip by bicycle was a success! 

Just two more weeks of class left before our final exams- things are wrapping up quickly here in France.