Day 4
Another beautiful day and off we went.
Bugger,I had forgotten my fcuking clutch was playing up.
Sod you bike-gone from the best bike ever to a liability in one easy move !
Anyway,the secenery was as stunning as ever,such as the medieval town of Roubion clinging to the hillside :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-nykge8jb4g3dw8xarhaj7369sp.jpg" alt="DSC01189"/>
and the bends just kept on coming :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-gnnta6bkrjkhdqqskgca72tx4e.jpg" alt="DSC01191"/>
and the views changed on every corner :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-1qndksdbyqhn9mky531gu7i4pi.jpg" alt="DSC01203"/>
quite literally
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-ry132ma64qat5s75kd11hw74dt.jpg" alt="DSC01206"/>
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-kma3apermkt3e6mh1i7n4q8whr.jpg" alt="DSC01209"/>
but finally,after 440 miles of the most sinuous beautiful roads ever,we arrived at the end in Menton :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-je8ei4qt5f71peshpg83cbaar.jpg" alt="DSC01218"/>
Nerdvana T Shirts on to celebrate (long story-don't ask
)
So that was it,the Routes Des Grandes Alpes done.
But still the Route Napoleon/Verdun Gorge and possibly Millau/Tarn Gorge to go !!
If I could fix my bloody bike !!!!
So,Richard ,having the wonderful BM sat nav proceeded to take me to the BMW Motorrad in Nice,who wasn't there any more.
Bollards !!!
A nice gendarmerie then told us about a BM specialist and gave us the address,and off we went :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-ktpbdsrp289x4xi5p57f3j5u31.jpg" alt="P9160022"/>
Pitched up and told him in my best French that the clutch was fcuked,and he said it was doubtful he could do anything but would take a look.
Out he came and said
I can fix your bike for you
With that,he took hold of the left handguard,rotated it up about an inch and announced
your bike,now she is fixed
How we bloody laughed !!!!
For 150 miles plus I had nursed the fcuking thing,cursing it for playing up on this fab trip,and all along it was only the bloody handguard fouling the clutch lever and pinching it in about half an inch.
What a twat,as explained in another thread.
The lever had always been near to touching the handguard,but I hadn't realised the guard could move,even though the bolts were secure.
Apologies to bike made (though handguard design is shite) and off we went for a celebratory beer before heading off to Cannes for an ice cream and oggle :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-rs59xmyg5yaxc3qs85nqyj55m8.jpg" alt="DSC01221"/>
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-x44migdpmxmqanhcbntiiqerex.jpg" alt="DSC01223"/>
And then time to head up to Grasse for the start of the Route Napoleon and find a hotel.
We were going to stay on the coast but it was so noisy and tacky after the serenity of the mountains that we decided to head onwards and upwards :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-a2md6etapjnuuqhau17n42hhf.jpg" alt="DSC01234"/>
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-xp9xc5m9xfs5x9xtr5e2y2m15f.jpg" alt="DSC01237"/>
We arrive at Castellane and find the last rooms at the Hotel du Levant :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-ni15tb44q8m7gj1sj2e5f4aq14.jpg" alt="DSC01246"/>
The view out of my window ain't bad !! :
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-q1ap49jfinb1sj9b85qxjafhsb.jpg" alt="DSC01240"/>
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080922-kbx2yniwpqe778jdyuye9dssem.jpg" alt="DSC01258"/>
Over dinner,we ring Bob (Shenzi) over in Millau.
The forecast in that part is not brilliant for next few days whereas northbound is still beautiful.
The first 30 miles of the Route Napoloen have been such a blast that we decide to bin the 200 mile across from here to Millau and we'll leave the bridge and tarn Gorge for another year,and instead,ride the Route Napoleon in it's entirety up all the way to Grenoble.
But first,the Gorge du Verdon in the morning.
I can't PM so would you consider emailing the files to me at 'nastydude (at) gmail (dot) com'
