un petit coin pour Jeff

I may have found a niche market yet untapped in Collioure! A hiking shop or magasin randonnee as they call it in these here parts, except they don't call it that because they don't have any. As Helene pointed out in a earlier blog there are many beautiful hikes here and in the surrounding areas including just across the border in Spain and in the Aude Valley. But, there is a dirth of good info on these hikes. Yes, you can buy hiking guide books if you try hard enough but these will give different directions for the same trail. They might seem to have a decent map and instructions but won't tell you how to get to the starting point which itself is off the beaten track. And as mentioned you can't find a stick to (hopefully not have to) save your life. Oh yeah, there are also so many trails that cross one another that it becomes rather easy to follow the markers onto the wrong trail at some point (god doesn't even know where that happened) because they are all the same flashes and none of the trail numbers in the books match the trail numbers on the trails. I know that a good hiker doesn't blame the map, but seriously, I ended up two trails over from the one I thought I was on and didn't figure it out till the next day!

So, Randonnee avec Joffrey, sounds European enough to me. My inability to speak either French or Catalan does not worry me as I will appear to be a lovably gruff outdoorsman of few (or no) words. Not answering any questions will be covered by a look that says " if you have to ask that question you would not understand the answer." Helene, of course would do all the money end so I would be paid in the correct amounts.

With any luck the shop would sell enough walking sticks, compasses, guide books and signal flares (better to be safe) so all I would have to do is drink espresso on the terrace, if I can find my way there, and look guide-like for the customers.

Another business plan that only requires Helene to keep working at her present career in order for me to achieve mine!