We had a great nights sleep in our 3 bed private loft room at the top of the barn annex at the Relais.
Some stretches to ease stiff muscles, and with Luke an even stiffer knee, which will ease quickly as he’s young and fit. We also have the world’s most expensive knee support.
A quiet group greeting at the early meeting point – everyone is relaxed, Familia by now.
The gruff rumble of the Mountain Guide Gauloisee as reassuring as ever …..
“Today Mon amis – our aim is to take the “Fenêtre d’Arpette” (2665m) route, which is a variant on the Tour du Mont Blanc and quite a challenge*. ( Mmm — ok 
)The morning’s hike is almost completely uphill – and the trail is not as well defined as on previous days but as with many pass crossings on this route, the rewards on a good weather day are extraordinary views, this time across to the Trient Glacier. From the pass there is an initially steep ascent before the gradient levels out to the Trient Valley. This evening will be spent in a gîte in Trient with shower. 14-16km, 1100m/3609ft ascent, 1300m/4265ft descent *in the event of poor weather or at the guide’s discretion we will instead take the Bovine mountain route (704m/2310ft ascent, 900m/2953ft descent) across the Col de La Forclaz, which follows the main TMB trail and has good views of the Rhone Valley, Grand Combin and the Bernese Alps.”
I’m humming the tune to the 
“British Grenadiers“ as we go. It’s one of my favorite, marching songs, interlaced into what you may mistake as my early 17th Century childhood 
by my dad and now familiar to my children from their own childhood country rambles.
But today a recall from Primary School prompts this equally qualified , not so ancient 1850’s marching song ..
Pretty much a staple of 1950s schooling – I was later disappointed to find that this song was not about riding an actual donkey but a slang Seamans /stevedores phrase for “Riding” the huge single cylinder steam “Donkey” engine that revolutionized loading onto ships in the mid 1850s.
Amazingly for a thought, so long lost but I remember being told that the repeated whispered rhythmic “Donkey Riding , Donkey Riding” by a backing group of a second group of kids imitate the sound of the steam engine.
Amazing what thoughts resurface on a hike – Maybe ? and I’ve said this before – being exposed to nature and minimal distraction with 30/40,000 meditative steps a day equals the ultimate in mindfulness.
Anyhooo ……..
It’s flat to start for a few mins ….
But soon we ascend to the cross overlooking valley that gives this hamlet its name – Martigny-Croix
Where we take time to wish Annabel good luck on her first day at college ….. 
A good intention soon descends into the Usual family chaos .
And a welcome lunch stop at the the Cafe du Cow as far as I can make out it’s name on Martigny-Combe above Martigny-Croix by 12.30.
Backpacks out and a dozen different contributions carried across our merry band contribute to lunch.
Lara to the rescue as trail aid rendered.
The views are fab – even though we’re not yet at todays full 2600 metres …. ……
It’s only 1987m here – just a hill then !
This place even has its own mini bakery – nice smells masking some of the more “Bovine” 
I hope the Omelette is 2.5 and not 25 SF !
Enough of the Lunch Stop ….. it’s on to Triente . I think that we didn’t notice a detour or possibly I’m missing some photos on another phone but I don’t think we did the “Fenêtre d’Arpette” route today. Recollection is hazy when you have this much amazing hard physical and gentle mental experiences in one day .
We take time to stop at at a cross further on and read it’s reminder to us travelers to take time to smell the roses.
and we get a chance for a reasonable team photo …..
As we head for tonight’s shelter – It’s a Gite apparently so – we speculate- “Will this be a Real bed or a Communal shelf”.
The weather is closing in as we descend – aha! – that’s why Sebastién decided on the amended route . We see Triente …….
The Gite turns out to be an Auberge and looks promising – unless we’re billeted in the cellar ( that’s not unknown)
Success …. Small things matter and another private room with REAL beds for us !
We dump our stuff and head outside after a shower for a drink before dinner. The Threatening clouds, make an interesting light over this unusual brightly painted chapel . One minute you see it …..
The next it’s 5 seconds from disappearing- but that’s Mountain Weather.
Dinner was jovial ,
And the Ice Cream left us in no doubt where we were …
Xxxxxx
Until tomorrow.