Au Tour du Mont Blanc

Merci les Alpes

The Alps are a landscape of dreams. Beyond dreams; more majestic than my brain could imagine.

Been walking the Tour du Mont Blanc somehow. Eleven days of pondering ponderous hiking, with a rest day and a cop out rainy day on buses in the middle. Passed through France, Italy and Switzerland. Absolute tortoise strategy: slow with many breaks. Doing what seems impossible … possible … impossible … until it’s done because it has to be. The heaving effort of the climbs (higher than I’ve ever been), the thrill of the soaring views, the glory of the shady forests and running rivulets, the painful careful drawn out descents. The relief of the end of day arrival.

Clanging cow bells in Le Champel (and pretty much everywhere else too)…

Refuge du Fioux - afternoon…

Refuge du Fioux - evening…

I’ve had so many heartwarming chats with all kinds of people from all kinds of places.

Chacun à son rhythme

Each to their own rhythm

Insects humming all the way down from Col de la Croix du Bonhomme…

Coming slowly down down down, and down and down, in glaring heat from the top of a col one day, I crossed paths with someone who said this (chacun à son rhythme) to me in conversation. I appreciated it a lot - it reaffirmed my okayness to be there, walking, along the same paths but at my own gentle pace. I’m carrying this phrase into contemplations on life: to each their own rhythm: live how you will in the time and way that works for you.

Birds of prey calling in La Villette, one sitting high in a pine, the other sweeping across the meadow with undulating wings…

Also been reading a thin little book I got in Chamonix, Plutôt couler en beauté que flotter sans grâce (Better to sink in beauty than float without grace), reflections by Corinne Morel Darleux. She advocates for la refus de parvenir - refusing to reach/gain/obtain - as a counterpoint to the modern Machine-Monstre. For stepping aside. For doing and being with intention, in whatever ways large or small feel fitting for you. A very good read for me as I walked slow and steady. This struck me:

“traverser un moment dur quand vous l’avez choisi, quand vous vous sentez en phase avec vous-même, est très différent de le subir par la misère imposée et le contrôle qu’exercent d’autres sur votre vie.”

My imperfect translation: “traversing a hard time when you have chosen it, when you feel yourself in tune with yourself, is very different to being subjected to it through imposed misery and the control that others exert on your life.”

It is something very empowering to decide to do something hard, to push and push and push on through prior supposed limits. To find yourself strong and capable. Patient and persevering. Proud.

Merci la France. Grazie Italia. Merci la Suisse.

A marmot…!

Finally, stealing again from Darleux:

“Alors prenez soin de vous, ne cédez rien de ce qui vous est singulièrement essentiel, autorisez-vous le beau et le sauvage. … Dévorez les journées avec grâce.”

“So take care of yourself, don’t give up anything that is for you in particular essential, allow yourself beauty and wildness. … Devour the days with grace.“