Jura Day 21

It was a simple breakfast but with fresh bread, still warm, driven up from the bakery.  The first part took us to the top of another hill, before gradually descending through ski slopes.  We reached the village of St Croix after an hour and a half of walking, where I went and stocked up on water and biscuits.  We followed a country road uphill out of town, stopping regularly as it was very hot and humid.  We reached the col, passing several wind turbines moving slowly in the breeze.  The road continued uphill until we reached a very busy mountain restaurant ( most had arrived by car).  We had an ice cream and drink, and set off again.  We passed several bunkers from WWII, and numerous sets of large concrete tank barriers.  In this section there were lots of revolving gates to get through; not designed for those carrying backpacks.  We started on the descent to Ballaigues, and debated whether to cover our bags as the rain started, but it didn’t last very long.  Large thunder clouds were beginning to build as we neared the village.  It would be another hour of walking to Vallorbe, so we decided to take the bus.  The rain started again and we took refuge in the old village wash house.  The bus arrived in time and we enjoyed the eight minute bus ride; a lot faster than walking.  The bus route passed within 200m of the Swiss/French border before going down to the town.  We got into our room in the hotel and found there was no electricity.  A call to the owner, and I opened the fuse box in the room, and put the electricity back on.  We went out for a meal at the auberge owned by the commune.  There was a huge clap of thunder, but there’s not been any rain so far.  Hopefully it will rain overnight and be dry in the morning.  We’ve combined three stages into the last two days, and the next few days are all quite short.  It’s been impossible to arrange accommodation if we extend the stages, so we are stuck with short days.  (We still have to resolve a problem in a few days time, where the bus we thought we would take from our accommodation back to the route only runs at the weekend)

I was writing the blog while we had our evening meal, and as I finished, there was a huge gust of wind.  The staff ran out to take down the umbrellas as the rain started falling heavily.  Everyone ran inside with their food.  There was more thunder and lightning, and the manageress offered us an umbrella to use on the way back to the hotel, only 50m away; we have to return it in the morning.