Day 13: Chamonix to Chamonix

Too hot to do much today.

A lie-in by our standards, eventually emerging at 7:30am. Gaby headed out for breakfast supplies and the heat must already have been affecting her judgement as she returned with three pain au chocolat for me.

Most of the morning was spent relaxing and sorting kit for the next stage of my holiday. Everything needed repacking, with tents, maps and equipment being swapped over ready for the GR11. Every item had to earn its place, as everything I need for the next five weeks in the Pyrenees will be carried on my back. Any last-minute kit decisions had to be made now.

Lunch was at McDonald's. Not for culinary reasons, but because it has air conditioning and a surprisingly good view of Mont Blanc.

In the afternoon we used our free tourist passes to catch the train to Le Buet and visit the waterfall and cave. This was our second free train journey of the week. The first was unintentional, as nobody was available to sell tickets, so we travelled without. This time we actually had valid tickets, which felt unnecessarily organised.

Back in Chamonix, I was granted special permission to buy an entire tub of ice cream for my own consumption. This is not normally authorised by management. The exception was made because Gaby wanted a tub for herself as well, making it less of an incident and more of a bulk purchase.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing as little as possible while the heatwave continued. Even sitting, staring out at the mountains from our balcony still felt like a reasonable achievement.

We may find enough energy later to venture out and buy postcards. If you're on our postcard list, and temperatures remain within safe operating limits, there may be one winging its way to you soon.