Day 88 – to Treffort- (& Day 87 – Pierreclos)

I failed to identify yesterday as Ascension Day, to my undoing.

It falls on a Thursday, so the associated Friday makes it one of the major holiday weekends in France.

I realised late in the afternoon, as I was on the move, heading towards Jura, and after a couple of breaks, was ready to settle. Each place I tried was completely unsuitable. I had thought of finding a municipal campsite and staying two or three days, so long as it was quiet, and in the hills. The three I tried were closed down, or full of families.

In the end I resorted for the aire at Pierreclos, which was fine, though near the busy road that passed through the town.

I stayed up late and tested my best researching skills for this busy weekend, with also, improving weather.

My choice of the very southwest of the Jura region worked well. it was only an hour’s drive this morning, to the Revemont valley and the village of Treffort. Initially I parked at the sports area, which is always a good idea, though again close to the road. I’d planned a hiking itinerary up to the Col des Justices.

Though there was quite a bit of traffic on the road, the village, and the hills were quiet, just a few locals out.

After yesterday being restricted in outdoor opportunities, today made up for it. We were out for about four hours, and hardly saw anyone.

Just before the Col thought, I was hallooed by a woman walking a horse on the track behind me. It turned out she had been leading a client, as is her business, on the hill an hour earlier, and lost her cell phone. She asked if I could walk with her, and call it as we headed to the Col, and then the high point. Unfortunately though my cell phone is out of credit… a long story, but GiffGaff only allows two months successive use out of the UK, I need to change it to EE, but haven’t got round to it.

We didn’t find it, and parted ways. Just before I started the descent though, I came across two other women, and in very broken French explained the situation, and passed on the number.

Later in the afternoon, sat with lunch, the horse woman passed, with her now found phone, and very grateful. She did seem a bit scatty though, as an equestrian guide, back on her horse, she couldn’t get it to move.

I relocated to the old village laundry later in the afternoon, a place I had walked past earlier, quiet and idyllic. In the early evening Roja and I wandered into the village to visit the Caveau, wine cellar and bar. Not long after I had sat down with a beer, the horse woman materialised to replenish my glass, with draft Kwak no less. It’s a good little bar, tonight with only locals around the tables. Visitors tend to come during the day, lured by the wine cellar.