Wednesday 31 August: Martigny to Orsieres (hotel). 22km

Les Valettes and the road up the Drance river towards St. Bernard 

The Francigena walking track – so far so good 

Mmmmm…….getting a bit challenging.  That slope on the left is a precipitous drop to the raging river way below

Spent the next 4 hours unloading the bike and transporting it all up and down some challenging tracks for 6-7 kms. 

Dependable and I tackling the next hazard. 

This nice young doctor from Paris very kindly helped me for a few kms. She was very strong!!

Wednesday 31 August. Martigny to orsieres (hotel). 22km only
Had a slow fiddle morning as I prepared for “the ascent”. Got rid of anything superfluous out of panniers. Dithered around the quite vibrant town of martigny looking for a map. 21 franks!!! Then fiddle faddled around trying to work out which way to go. The main road is full of fast cars and big trucks and places with no shoulder. The Francigena looks worth a try. It runs alongside the road but just off into the forest. Didn’t leave martigny till 10am. Started on the road but it was suicide. After about 7km I crossed the Francigena as it meandered through villages so stayed with it as it become an alpine walking track.   There was no way to get back onto the road once I had started on this track. Precipitous cliff, raging river, railway line, and sealed off road!  Except going backwards – but unfortunately I never consider that as an option. The track was so narrow and steep in some points that it was almost impossible to get dep and I past the obstruction. Loose rocks kept rolling off down the cliff. Especially one time with enormous boulder on up side that obstructed half the path, only had about 35cm of slippy gravel then extreme slope. We went over areas of rock slides/ land slips and continually up and down extremely steeply. The girl from Paris was very kind. She had passed me but then came back to say that the track ahead was going to need two persons to get past safely. So she helped me for about 2 hours which was fabulous. The only other person who passed was a young self important young man who hardly even said hi. Eventually I got to the town of Sembrancher and was able to cross the railway line and river and get back on to the busy road. Decided to ride on to Orsieres, another  6 km. It’s so crazy when big vehicles pass so close. They cause a wobble and you feel you will be sucked under the truck. Anyway. Finally pulled off into town of orsieres   Camp ground looks like it’s about 2-3 km up a very steep hill (definitely no). Can’t find a hostel so was pleased to find a renovated hotel opposite the station (col de St. Bernard express)   Was tired but felt I would just pay anything to get a bed, shower, meal. Was 89 Swiss francs. So not too bad. Had a small risotto and salad for dinner. Even have TV!!