Red. White. Blue.

I still love this flawed and beautiful country, but the 4th of July holiday leaves me flat. Above is my single patriotic contribution, and prettier than a flag. 

The 4th is more fun in Twisp with a small town parade (cowboys on beautiful horses!) then the Methow Arts Fest in the afternoon and a barbecue potluck at the house. Well, hopefully next year.

The world seems to be divided right now between those who follow soccer and those who don't. Ashamed to say, we are in the second category. 

The big news buzz this morning is the US team returning to Seattle Stadium on Monday to play Belgium. Good for them. The cheapest tickets are about $2000. Pioneer Square and the waterfront will be mobbed, with locals giving the area a wide berth. 

Basketball and football are made for TV, but I can't follow that little white ball on a screen.  

From AI: 

"The continuous, low-scoring nature of the sport and the wide camera angles on TV can make it feel incredibly disconnected and monotonous."

Right on that. 

On the trail

 

Finally a cool down in Switzerland, with some refreshing morning rain. Amanda said they slept well in the "crush of humanity" at the hut last night. Exhaustion helps. 

Howdy, fine fellow. The Swiss cows must be used to legions of hikers tramping along the trails. The sound of their clanking bells is omnipresent, day and night. That big bell with the deep pitch means he is the alpha (no argument there) and the others can follow the sound in the fog. 

Speaking of heat, it's so cold our furnace is running. This comes courtesy of Alaska, with a low pressure system pulling damp cold air down our way. July 1st? Sometimes it is downright weird living up here in the left hand corner.

Too bad we can't sell the country some of this natural air conditioning.  

 

Yesterday's mashed potatoes

 

Life is pretty dull in Seattle right now (compared to trekking in the Alps) and it doesn't help that we've been under a cold blanket of grey clouds all week. 

While rest of the country is sweltering, we're the contrarians as usual. Seattle might finally get back to a toasty 70 degrees in time for the 4th of July. Food has been on the heavy side, to match the weather. 

Who eats corned beef in June? Well, there was one languishing in the freezer, along with a container of mashed potatoes, so I mixed up batch of potato pancakes to go with. They soak up the butter and olive oil like a sponge. 

Last night I made homemade fried chips to go with the tortilla soup. Good grief. You would think it was February.

The girls would hate this picture so good thing they don't read the blog. The trekkers have now crossed the Switzerland border. Amanda said it is still very hot, just like when we were there a few weeks ago. 

Temperatures in the Alps are rising at twice the global average, melting glaciers and changing the ecosystem before your eyes. It will be a different place if Nova and Maya ever bring their children here. 

The families are staying tonight at a Refugio near a tiny town without even a general store. Amanda said the kids have an amazing yurt to themselves, but the adults have "mattresses on the floor in a massive communal situation." Her words. 

 

 

Now that's my idea of a restful night after a long day of hiking!

They have excellent cellular service (Europe is ahead of us in many ways) so we look forward to the pictures and messages she sends every morning. 

There is WiFi at the Refugios, although tonight is an exception, so the kids are bummed. They are roughing it because the parents didn't get them expensive international plans for their phones. 

Very cute, unless you're a teenager stuck in an isolated yurt on a mountain. Well, memories are made of this. 

 

Postcards from the French Alps

 

It looks incredibly beautiful (and civilized.)

Au revoir sizzling Paris

And hello, hot Alps. We are enjoying their trip second hand through Amanda’s photos. Family and friends above waiting to board the high speed train in Paris, headed to Chamonix (near Mt. Blanc) via Geneva. 

Arriving after a long day of travel, with the final hours standing room only on the smaller trains.  

A pretty French town, but still unseasonably hot-- the loaded kids making their way to the hostel. 
 

The week long "hut-to-hut" trek started today. Although hut is a misnomer, because these are like rustic hotels or hostels (called Refuges) with communal meals and sleeping areas. 
 

Enjoying the view at Refuge de La Flegre, where they stay tonight. I’d just take that gondola up haha. 

If you are interested in details, here's the itinerary: 

Monday: Le Tours

Tuesday: Trient

Wednesday: Champex-Lac

Thursday: La Fouly

Friday: Val Ferret

Saturday: Bonatti Hut

The distance and terrain between these stops varies, but I think most are about 10 miles a day.  

After that, an Italian adventure begins. They collect their luggage that was (hopefully) transported to Bonatti, and find a way down to Turin for a flight to Brindisi. Then several days relaxing in southern Italy (with a rental car?) and finally a stay in Rome before returning home. The fun is just getting started.

The heat goes on

The Paris heat wave is finally easing today, with rain and thunderstorms moving across France. Tonight the families are taking a Seine and Eiffel Tower tour (from the ground) then off to Mt. Blanc by train in the morning, where a different adventure begins.

 

Here on the other side of the world, we woke up to a drizzly, cool morning. After that little taste of summer, we won't get back to 70 degrees until next weekend. There is an old saying in Seattle that “summer doesn’t start until the 5th of July." 

Nothing exciting for us, just a quiet weekend at home.  Have a good one.