Spain & Portugal – Lake de Bourget – The Travelling Watson's

Lake de Bourget at last.

The view we woke up to.

We set out to explore around the lake but first stop was a post office to send a bit of weight home. However, another public holiday, but only in some places because we found a post office with a wonderfully helpful non English speaking post mistress. It took about an hour for all the translations and customs forms but we eventually got our box away and had a look around town.

Memorial to WW1 and WW2, fairly common on most towns.

It was a reasonably clear day and Collette was keen for me to get some good photos of the lake from on high. So we set off on a 15km, 1000m climb up a mountain with some awesomely butt clenching bends and narrow roads along the cliff edge. Fortunately there was very little traffic and we made it to the top so Collette could breathe again.

Lake de Bourget and the Rhone River.

Our post office is down there somewhere.

That’s Mont Blanc under the white stuff.

We found a 6km short cut down the mountain, equally butt clenching but a lot quicker. We found a very pretty town along a canal, super popular with well patronised restaurants for a holiday.

The Honey Shop. Bee keeping and honey is big around here and we managed to spend 40 E on all sorts of great produce. Love the shop too.

An antique store with some great stuff. I could have filled a container.

It was still hot at 30C so a swim was required. We headed down to a marina and beach where the water was a surprising 23C and very inviting. Only problem is the beach and lake bottom is all pebbles and very painful to walk on. Still the swim in fresh water was great.

The next day we decided to hang around to hire a canoe on the canal. Only problem was I knew who was going to do all the paddling. When the opportunity came up to hire a boat with an electric outboard I was all in. 45 E for 90 minutes or there about. He really didn’t care.

This lake doesn’t freeze in winter so these houses would be great all year around. They were built in 2011. No idea what they would go for now.

Our boating options.

Another way to explore the canal.

The wine barrel B&B.

Some houses on the canal. Could do with any of them.

It was a 45 minute trip down to the top of the lake. On the way we were questioned by the water police if we were explained the specific rules of boating on the lake. We got away with saying we were turning around at the top of the lake but their rules must be tough. Just as we came to the lake this castle came into view.