A Col too far

[Arthurmo]

Part of the winter has been spent on looking at trip reports on here and 2 that sprang out were the Route de Grande Arsey (re named in honour of all his pics) and the Tarn Gorge so June this year saw me set out. It was a long wet trip to Northampton 1 hour and 45 in the saddle and I just made it into Jacks Hill cafe where I flirted with salmonella over a big breakfast and then rode the 3 miles to Heretic central to some or Bike shuttle to others.I could make all sorts of reasons why I wanted to try this service but the bottom line is I'm lazy and couldn't be arsed riding all the way down and back so I checked in and got changed before jumping on the bus to Luton airport then 5 pints a plane and shuttle bus saw me sat in a best Western apartment in Thoiry waiting for my bike the next day.



Morning came and after a chaotic breakfast at the Best Western the bikes were outside ready to go with the keys at reception. I realise this isn't everyones cup of tea but it was well managed and easy. Today's route will see me head down to 5 different Balcony routes and end up at Pont en Royans



It always takes me a wee while to adjust to European driving so a quick blast down a dual carriage way before starting to climb into the hills



The rest of the day was a series of chuckles as the roads kept getting better and the gorges and balcony roads came in this order
Point 11 Gorge du Guiers
Point 13 Gorges du Guiers Mort/Monastery
Point 20 Les Ecouges Rd
Point 21 Gorges du Nan
Point 23 Route de Presles




I ended up at Pont en Royans staying at the Hotel Musee d'leau which had a nice outside dining terrace by the river and featured real live ducks you could watch whilst eating the one you'd ordered.

 

[Arthurmo]

a couple more pics as I forgot the bike....



and the town

 

[russ996duke]

More, please!

 

[timeandtide]

More, please!

Tempting isn’t it?

 

[Arthurmo]

Day 2 starts with a quick blast through the Petite Goulets tunnels. The original pass carved into the side of the mountain has been closed with big gates barring access and from there I start to climb up the D2 to Combe Lavaland loop around onto the D76



The smile gets bigger once again as the road climbs the hill and starts to narrow



There's hardly any traffic so let the Stevie Wonder school of photography commence!

 

[Arthurmo]

All the balcony roads yesterday were good but this tops the leader board so far and it's still early



I come down from Combe Laval and start through the forests towards Vassieux en Vercours to the resistance memorial and necropolis.The French resistance after getting a call to arms were surrounded by the Germans on 3 sides and were then surprised by Glider troops one morning and a costly battle ensued.



These are the air frames from the Gliders

 

[Arsey]

All the balcony roads yesterday were good but this tops the leader board so far and it's still early

View attachment 416512

I come down from Combe Laval and start through the forests towards Vassieux en Vercours to the resistance memorial and necropolis.The French resistance after getting a call to arms were surrounded by the Germans on 3 sides and were then surprised by Glider troops one morning and a costly battle ensued.

View attachment 416513

These are the air frames from the Gliders
View attachment 416514

Nice one . Been in that very spot myself on a few different bikes last couple of years .

 

[Khulu]

I hate balcony roads!
Arsey loves them!

 

[leadfarmer]

I hate balcony roads too, scare the bejeesus out of me

The museum however is excellent, there used to be a small private one as well at La Chapelle en Vercors, don’t know if it’s still open

 

[russ996duke]

Tempting isn’t it?

thinking about next yearmaybe the Harz or something similar to this!

 

[Arthurmo]

Thanks all,I started to head over to the Col De Rousset which is offers a great view and then some cracking switchbacks. I've put Conti trail attack 3's on for this trip and what a tyre they just inspire confidence and I'm soon down the bottom and heading to the Gorges des Gats



The Gorges des Gats is fairly flat and has just been resurfaced but it's twisty and has things like this



This was just by the side of the road and was in the shade and rather tranquil.Trouble is I'm getting to that age where 5 minutes besides running water and I need a pish so without wanting to soil paradise I got going.

Here's where we meet up with the title of this thread and I'm relieved others have remarked they don't like Balcony roads as this nearly put me off Cols. The Col Du Galibier, I'd been hurtling along the D526 being rather pleased with myself and the bike and we started to climb into the clouds on the D920B. It wasn't the visibility but the wind which was literally getting right up me and the temperature started to drop so I layered up and carried on getting to here



There was a group of French riders who were having an animated conversation and pointing up before deciding to carry on without going further up but just then an ancient old cyclist who was probably young at the bottom of the Col went left and a KTM came down so the die was cast and off I went up. There's no photos as there was no visibility but the wind was right up and my bottle was slowly going and when there was a break in the cloud it was just a long drop and the odd mad cyclist. I got to the top where the tunnel is which in my route notes shout Don't take the tunnel but I'd had it by then and bottled it. It was a nice tunnel though

As I came down and about 20 miles later (just long enough not to go back) I was angry with myself as I should've gone right up but I just carried on to the hotel which was biker friendly and featured a barn,angry sheep dog and dutch cyclists gussets flapping in the breeze.



A room with a view and a host that tolerated my abysmal French and couldn't do enough for his guests.

 

[Byronavitch]

Thanks all,I started to head over to the Col De Rousset which is offers a great view and then some cracking switchbacks. I've put Conti trail attack 3's on for this trip and what a tyre they just inspire confidence and I'm soon down the bottom and heading to the Gorges des Gats

View attachment 416515

The Gorges des Gats is fairly flat and has just been resurfaced but it's twisty and has things like this

View attachment 416516

This was just by the side of the road and was in the shade and rather tranquil.Trouble is I'm getting to that age where 5 minutes besides running water and I need a pish so without wanting to soil paradise I got going.

Here's where we meet up with the title of this thread and I'm relieved others have remarked they don't like Balcony roads as this nearly put me off Cols. The Col Du Galibier, I'd been hurtling along the D526 being rather pleased with myself and the bike and we started to climb into the clouds on the D920B. It wasn't the visibility but the wind which was literally getting right up me and the temperature started to drop so I layered up and carried on getting to here

View attachment 416517

There was a group of French riders who were having an animated conversation and pointing up before deciding to carry on without going further up but just then an ancient old cyclist who was probably young at the bottom of the Col went left and a KTM came down so the die was cast and off I went up. There's no photos as there was no visibility but the wind was right up and my bottle was slowly going and when there was a break in the cloud it was just a long drop and the odd mad cyclist. I got to the top where the tunnel is which in my route notes shout Don't take the tunnel but I'd had it by then and bottled it. It was a nice tunnel though

As I came down and about 20 miles later (just long enough not to go back) I was angry with myself as I should've gone right up but I just carried on to the hotel which was biker friendly and featured a barn,angry sheep dog and dutch cyclists gussets flapping in the breeze.

View attachment 416519

A room with a view and a host that tolerated my abysmal French and couldn't do enough for his guests.

Fantastic made a note of that one

 

[ymfb]

Keep it up, great work.

 

[Marlou]

Brilliant...keep it up

 

[Arthurmo]

Day 3. Cyclists like a good breakfast. The plates are stacked, carbs loaded and if you're Dutch chocolate sprinkles abound.I like to feel part of the team and join in defeating the baguette forest. Col de Madeleine is calling and as soon as I've adjusted my suspension I'm off.Not very far though as that angry sheep dog reappears and I know why he's angry turns out he's being misused under the trades description act and is herding cows his owner tries to tell me that today is some sort of national cow day and they'll be everywhere so I turn around and head up the Auto route to Albertville. I did pass by Les Bigots but none of the tosser debating team from the politics section was in.



So up to Beaufort and onto Lac Roseland which is bathed in sunshine after the mist and rain of the auto route



There's a couple of nice cafe's and I stop and admire the lake before chewing up some more twisties on the way to Bourg St Maurice