Winter Walk from Pied d'Or to La Theurre with a tough little girl

Passing at Donze's, Mama and ET could not resist, hungry as we were!
On our way to Pied d'Or, rain outside, but ET in exellent mood!
Mama taken by ET.
After a good walk, with ET only for less than 10min on Mama's shoulders, we stopped at the saw mill under a dry roof for some more food and...
...Glühtea, now from Papa's undestructable cup. ET now knows too, that this green means military!

Then setting out to Etang, in search of ducks, as we had old bread with us! But where have they hidden?

ET spotted the first ones, and also was quick to observe that the female ones were a lot more courageous in approaching her and the bread, than the male ones!
Very high water levels now on Etang, and quite a step to make for ET to reach the lower platform!
At last in La Theurre...
...happy with hot Ovomaltine, and a Christmas tree!

La Bouege - hard to immagine a more idyllic terrace down on the Doubs

Auberge de la Bouège - Nicolas Fontana - La Bouège 1 - 2340 Le Noirmont - 032 953 11 48

Idyllically located down at the Doubs, 1h descent from Le Noirmont or Les Bois, the restaurant hosts a fantastic terrace onto the Doubs. Sitting under the big lime tree, with a glass of wine, one of their great menues and a little breeze it is hard to imagine a better place to stay. Rooms are simple but correct, and staying down there at the Doubs when all the day visitors have left, is a very special experience, too. If you do not want to climb up the steep slopes again, you can also follow the trail along the Doubs to Goumois, in about 2 hours, where postcar to Saignelegier leaves several times a day.

Wonderful Jura Vaudois: from Mouthe to Le Sentier

Here, Mama and ET hat already climbed 150m in altitude, and Le Liadet expected us with a great little breakfast - still under blue sky!

ET setting off on her bike, a flat stretch ahead!

Despite thunderstrom and grey massive clouds building up, ET decided to sleep! So the houses are NOT in Russia, but in the French Jura, and the yellow spot is ET deep asleep under her pellerine!

Just passed the green frontier into Switzerland, including a big, old but unfortunately dead badger! The entire border is marked by an old dry stone wall, but very think forest! So we were happy to spot the refuge and shortly below the yellow mark of the Swiss hiking trail! Still, we are close to the ridge, and ET is having her hands out to catch hail dropplets!

Safely, proud and dry down on Lac de Joux!

Well deserved Apero watching the neighbours cows of Catherine's and Andre's B&B in Le Lieu.
www.bluelotus.ch/labase/

And finally celebrating with a big piece of chocolate cake and the beach in Le Pont!

Clairbief reopened! The best Truite Bleu all along the Doubs for sure!

...our first trout! Ella Tili loved it as much as Mama!

...and despite the suggestion...

...our second trout! Simply excellent.

Not so easy to find the Cafe Clairbief! But it is full for sure at Sunday lunchtime, so reserve in advance! All contact details see www.clairbief.com

Access accross the new bridge from the South, e.g. descending on foot from Les Pommerats (2h), or

..along the Doubs from Soubey, 1h. Enjoy! And do not miss the Parfait Grand Marnier to round of the meal in the end!

Fancy an exclusive Jura Raclette?

Quail eggs on smoked raclett - on how to get it step by step:

Get some smoked Raclette cheese at Mrs. Roth Laiterie in Tramelan...(do not eat it straight away, but we admit it is extremely tasty even before turned into a raclette...!)...

...get the Chemin de Fer du Jura until the station Pied d'Or and buy at the farm of the family Scheidegger 1 Min away from the station a box of quails eggs (Wachteleier) - it is self service...
and enjoy the walk back home to Tramelan

...prepare the smoked cheese raclette and add 1 minute before the end a quail's egg on top! Absolutely delicious! Enjoy!

Happy New Year from the Jura Franches Montagnes!

Our New Year 2011 started with a delicious Jura cheese Raclette on Etang de la Gruere! Splendid sun...

...made a little girl Ella Tili happy...

...and a hot air ballon touching down on the frozen lake just in front of us to wish us all Happy New Year!

And time for some for a first nap in the new Year, too!

Snow conditions were excellent, so most of our way to Etang was on the sledge...

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2011 and any time welcome for days like this in the Jura Franches Montagnes Mountains! Looking forward to host you and should we for once not be there, the loft is always available to big and little adventurers and nature lovers, just let us know!