Provence - Route des Grand Alpes

[panzerrocket]

This used to be one of my old love affairs where I roamed a lot when I started riding 25 years ago, Provence in Southern France and the mighty Alpes there. Time to see it again.
We left Copenhagen on a cold friday morning here in October and rode down to Hamburg to catch the auto-train as usual.
Waiting on the train in Hamburg.



The bike got secured on the train.



It's a bit like the lottery when you board the train. Do you get the train compartment for your self or do you have to share it with somebody else?
This time we were lucky, we got it all to our selves - nice
Thank God for Nintendo's to keep Nikolai occupied.



Dinner on the train is perhaps not the most exciting experience but acceptable.



Upon arriving in Alessandria in northern Italy next morning, it was cold and misty, so an extra layer of clothes was added.



We started riding west towards the french border. Weather was still misty, so the camera didn't get out much. We stopped in a small italian town just before the border,



and had lunch here.



Crossing the border to France we hit the Route des Grandes Alpes. It's perhaps a bit to much to say that I know it as my own backyard but I have been riding here a lot, years ago. Last time was with Nikolai's mother about 10 years ago, and that was why we picked this destination as the final encore for this year's riding. Nikolai wanted to see the places where mom had been with dad



I know that the Alpes are higher and mightier in Switzerland, Austria and also the Dolomites in Italy, but don't be fooled, this is an absolutely excellent riding area.



A ziggy stop taking in the views.



We rode these brilliant roads,



through narrow canyons,



and stopped for the night in the nice little town of Sospel.





We checked in at this humble little hotel just to the right of the Spar supermarket. It was clean, had toilets and showers and was located smack in the middle of town.



After dumping our stuff at the room we went out for a stroll in the town. At the local square Nikolai found himself a little french friend to play with, so I sat down with a beer watching them.



After that it was time for dinner at the local restaurant.



Nikolai had a pizza and I got carpacchio for starter,



followed by some bloody big shrimps.



Back home at the hotel afterwards, we layed on the bed talking about the next day's riding before going to sleep.

[egret]

Another good ride report
-zie egret .

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by egret

Another good ride report
-zie egret .

Cheers egret.

[marty hill]

Thank you/brings back wonderful memories of this past summer.

[GB]

Wow!! Thanks for sharing your awesome ride pics

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by marty hill

Thank you/brings back wonderful memories of this past summer.

Thanks marty hill. I'm glad to be of assistance with regards to your memories

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by GB

Wow!! Thanks for sharing your awesome ride pics

Thanks GB - more to come now.

[panzerrocket]

Next morning the plan was to ride into the Mercantour nationalpark through Gorges du Plaun and explore all the canyons in the nationalpark. When we got to Col d Turini, the road was blocked due to a rally, so we stayed a while and watched.





Nikolai was thrilled to see all the cars racing by.



Eventually we turned around and went back.





It turned out that the new route I'd planned also was affected by the rally...hm!



But what the hell, we were not in a hurry and just made a new route to get into the Mercantour nationalpark. We stopped in this town,





for a coffee and a Cola.



When these 2 gentlemen rolled into town, Nikolai was all fired up. Daddy let's go look at their bikes. We had a chat with them, and they turned out to speak pretty good english. I tried with my very lousy french to start with, but they quickly switched to english with a smile. In fact, everybody we met on this trip spoke english. I always started out with my almost non-excistent french, and the frenchmen then switched to english. So the myth about frenchmen only wanting to speak french is hereby busted.



We continued through this wonderful landscape.



After a cold night on a hotel up in the mountains, we headed down for this road.



Passing villages located down in the valleys.



We rode south through Gorges de Dalius with fantastic views.

[panzerrocket]

Next day back on the road we suddently found the road blocked by sheep.



We then entered Gorges du Cians.








Riding fantastic roads.











We then went up col de la Cayolle.



With it's height of 2326 meter, it was below freezing point up here, and there was a lot of snow.









Of course Nikolai wanted to play with the snow and chased me



We rode down on the north side of the pass.





There wasn't many bikes around at this time of year, but we did see a few.



In the town Guillestre we stopped here for the night.

[Edder B]

I too want to thank you for this thread. I spent 4 months in Europe last year and rode most of the same roads. The French Alps were one of my favorites. I also agree that the French people were the friendliest.

[zadok]

Great variety of roads and nice towns you went through. Great pics.

[Blader54]

what a journey....and with your son! Superbe! Will now have to go read your earlier reports!!

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by Edder B

I too want to thank you for this thread. I spent 4 months in Europe last year and rode most of the same roads. The French Alps were one of my favorites. I also agree that the French people were the friendliest.

Hi edder. Yes the french alps er fantastic! Thanks for your comment.

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by zadok

Great variety of roads and nice towns you went through. Great pics.

Thank you zadok

[panzerrocket]

Originally Posted by Blader54

what a journey....and with your son! Superbe! Will now have to go read your earlier reports!!

Thank you Blader54. I hope you will enjoy the earlier reports