The Girls First Overseas Orienteering Event

During the week while scouring the net as to potential activities, we came across that the local orienteering club, Orient'Alp, were holding an event nearby. Further investigations into the event details, we discovered it was on Saturday afternoon offering 4 courses and accessible by public transport. It was decided that weather permitting we would attend.

Thinking that there wouldn't be any orienteering events on in winter in Grenoble and highly aware of our baggage limitations, we didn't actually pack any orienteering clothes, shoes or kit. So packing our runners, spare plus extra warm clothes, lunch and water - we departed on foot to the Grenoble station to catch the bus. Purchasing tickets was interesting as we had initially thought we needed to buy a region bus ticket however it turned out that our stop Parc de Vouillants was within the metro area thus we could use the metro TAG system. All was good as we boarded the bus with several minutes to spare.

The bus trip took 30min to cover the 10km depositing us at the parc where the assembly area and the organisers were busing with last minute preparations. Once registered, we walked taking all our gear with us, a kilometre or so to the start and finish area. Though the heavy wooden doors, we enter the Desert J-J Rousseau. Immediately the path divides - one to the left, one to the right. We hesitated wondering which of these paths we are meant to follow to the start. A French orienteer appears behind us and reassures us that it doesn't matter, they both meet at the other end. We continue along and are impressed by this narrow gorge with its two steep limestone cliffs.

The easy course was 2.8km long and slightly more difficult so Andy shadowed Ella while I assisted behind Katy. Halfway around Katy and I admired the view over Grenoble. The course was challenging with lots of tracks as well as being quite steep but both girls did well placing in the top of the field. With the benefit of a preview of the terrain, I decided to do the shortest hard course - 3km opposed to the 5km. Andy kept to his guns and chose the longest (7.5km) course. The terrain was steep, thick with blackberry and holly bushes as well as extremely wet and slippery especially in runners! I was very glad to have chosen the shorter course which took me nearly an hour (not helped by a 10 minute mistake!) and by the time I got back the sun had disappeared behind the mountain and the temperature was rapidly dropping. The girls were rugged up happily playing. While waiting for Andy, we devoured our baguette, ham and cheese lunch. I started to wonder how long Andy would be  and whether we'd make the 4.15pm bus. 

He eventually appeared looking muddy and worn out after being out in the forest for 95mins - much longer than he has expected! We then hightailed it back through the gorge, buying a few slices of cake from the cake stall arriving at the bus stop with a few minutes to spare. Patiently waiting at the top of the laneway the girls were mucking around as we wished the bus to arrive. As the minutes ticked away, the bus was now 10+minutes late, we discussed our options if it didn't arrive. Plan B was to walk about 1km downhill to the local bus stop but time was running out to make that connection if we didn't commit to it soon. While we were dithering, a small black runaway puppy came bounding up the laneway towards us with its owner chasing behind. Obviously it had no road sense and was quickly racing toward the large busy main road but luckily we all fanned out. Ella nearly caught it but it turned racing back towards the owner who manage to grab it and clip on its lead. We all sighed relief grateful that we didn't see a squashed puppy and turned around just as our bus whizzed by!!!!!! 

Andy swore, Katy and I were in disbelief, the dog owner realised and profusely apologised while Ella broke down in tears! Our only option now was to make haste downhill and hope to arrive before the local bus left! Ella though was struggling with this change in plans, spending most of the run/walk downhill complaining about the puppy, the owner, the rocks, the path..... Andy and I thought the situation was hilarious but couldn't really laugh at the time and it was days later when Ella see the funny side to the whole incident!! Our journey home continued to be disrupted - the bus dropped us at the tram stop and we hopped on to the tram without incident with the girls enjoying their first tram ride. However as the tram pulled into the train station it stopped and everyone disembarked. We looked around wondering what the problem was only to be told by the guard that the gilets jaunts (yellow vest) protest was blocking the tram tracks in town!! Luckily our route home from the train station is short and avoids town. The girls were very intrigued about the protest asking lots of questions. An interesting day.