A leisurely breakfast was consumed because no one was in a rush to do anything. The weather was just perfect and there was a free bus into Les Contamines every half an hour — why rush? I think I will have another coffee, but you can shove your muesli! Just one cooked breakfast was all I wanted; bacon and eggs used to be a Sunday ritual back home. I know it is your day off, Lewis, but 16 eggs and two pounds of bacon cannot be hard to cook? Only teasing you, Lewis, only teasing!
Lee and I jump on the tennis bus to town. It is a smaller main town than most, but has its beauty all the same: a quaint church, coffee shops with morning croissants, boutiques, and not forgetting restaurants and bars. We spend an hour or so looking around when I find the very Zamberlan boots I have been looking for in Italy, but to no avail — silly me thinking that I would be able to get Italian walking boots in Italy! After a short time haggling with the shopkeeper we agree a price which I might add is way cheaper than back home. It was then that I realised that I had brought some cash with me, but had left my credit cards safely back at the campsite. Forget about the boots, I think.
I catch up with Lee and we stop on the main street and have a beer and sit outside enjoying the sun. Soon Lewis and Graham join us and I proceed to tell them all about the boots I have found. No sooner have I told them the story, Graham goes over to the shop and negotiates another 30 euros off the price! Then Lee insists on buying them for me on his credit card. People never cease to amaze me throughout my life; Lee has known me for only ten minutes and he has paid for my new boots whilst Graham has squeezed all their profit out! Thanks — it is days like these that you remember.
Boots purchased and me in debt till tomorrow, we settle down to a few more beers — and why not? Most of the others are walking around town, and soon there are quite a lot of us enjoying lunch together at a restaurant further downtown. We had a good meal and a pleasant couple of hours before heading back on the bus to the campsite. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, reading, and chatting away. I decide to have a shower and spruce myself up for the evening meal at the clubhouse restaurant.
The food is OK here and the wine even better. I think Lewis enjoyed his day off today. We all wander back to our tents and wind down for the night, for tomorrow is probably the toughest day of trekking on the whole tour.
Les Contamines
Lewis, Graham, Lee and I enjoy a beer