Suspended

Scarier in large. A somewhat startling sight on our walk today. An aerial inspection of my favourite pylons and high-tension lines has been in progress for the last couple of days. See context in extras. It involves the helicopter hovering in place close to the wires for 5-10 minutes at a time, while the two workers on the platform do whatever they need to do. Between inspections the helicopter flies off with them still dangling. Clearly this is a job for a skilled pilot and windless days only. Even so they look a little buffeted. We waved to them, but they perhaps didn't feel safe enough to wave back.

Once again the walk took us along paths within a few km of the village that I've never been along before. After Notre Dame de la Consolation we headed up into the woods, very pleasant as despite the earlier drops of rain it was now 24C and sunny. There was even a nice clearing with picnic tables. Leaving the woods I had another case of house envy (second extra) -- this delightful renovation of an old shepherd's hut miles from anywhere, complete with garden, patio, and outdoor toilet (a neat little hut with a bucket in it). What a lovely place to spend time on fine days; it was equipped for cooler days though, with a woodburner and a stack of wood plus evidence of solar power.

Stats: 11 km, 90 m climbing, 3 hours. I felt I shouldn't have been so knackered when I got home -- it wasn't that much longer than last week's.