Mother and daughter day today, with Heather and I off to catch a gondola to visit a glacier and an ice cave. Heather woke up excited and ate her breakfast and dressed herself in record time. We were early but decided to head off as anything could happen on these mountains roads and it did. We got stuck behind 3 camper vans (our pet hate in France), there were 2 road works, and there was debris on the road from overnight rock avalanches. This all slowed us down and despite leaving early we got there when I'd originally estimated. It was very exciting. We were first in line to catch the 10am (first) gondola and Heather virtually ran on when the door opened.
It was a two stage trip as we had to change gondola half way as the top section went off at a different angle. The views going up were incredible as we climbed higher and higher. After the midway point the real elevation gain was made. We followed the face of La Meije, a high jaggered mountain that rises to 3983m and is covered in glaciers. It was spectacular. When we reached as far as the gondola went at 3200m. It was incredible, rocky and barren with a huge glacier flowing just on the other side of the ridge (la Meije on one side, flowing glacier on the other).
We had a quick look at the view and followed the signs to la Grotte de Glace which was a cave dug out in the glacier. It was quite a difficult climb down over loose rocks and slippery ice so we very lucky Callum and Neil stayed at home. The cave was brilliant. I'd imagined one loop with a couple of sculptures but there were multiple tunnels linked together with sculptures at the intersections and in small side caves. There were dragons, dinosaurs, giant feet and even a car you could sit in.
The creators must of had a ball making them. Each sculpture also had a light illuminating it. Being at the end of the season they were beginning to melt a little but the general forms were all still there. Even just the patterns and light in the ice itself (without the sculptures) I thought were incredible and I wondered how different it would look on a bright and sunny day. After Heather declared she was too cold (she was wearing two jumpers and a jacket of Neil's that I had brought for me) we made our way out of the ice maze.
We climbed our way off the glacier and back to the rocky lookouts just in time for it to start snowing. One of the reasons for the trip was because Heather was desperate to see snow and here we were looking at this huge glacier and it was snowing! Heather couldn't believe it and started dancing around then poking out her tongue to eat it. It was so cool to see her so happy. After the excitement she realised how cold she actually was so I suggested a hot chocolate to warm her up. This did the trick then we caught the next gondola down. Silly me asked her where do you want to sit as there were four in a sort of train of gondola cabins. Her answer was the front one. Knowing the altitude we had travelled up I knew what the journey would be like going down, but with all my courage I agreed and off we went. It was fine at first then a pylon came up on the edge of a cliff and there was only one way down - very fast and at a very steep angle. Fear, exhilaration and adrenalin all at once. I admit we both screamed a couple of times but the view and the fun we were having together made it a trip to remember. After reaching the ground we had a quick bite to eat and headed back down the valley to the boys. They were just returning from playground number two for the day and from all accounts had had a lovely day.
I will treasure my day I spent with Heather. Going to the ice cave was brilliant but seeing her face at the sight of the glacier and standing in the snow was something that gives a mum the warm and fuzzies. Tomorrow Neil is riding the Col de la Madeleine and doesn't need his support crew so we are staying at home and doing school work and secret stuff for Father's Day.
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