First trip abroad - Route des Grandes Alpes

[moon]

Summer last year we thought it would be fun to motorbike through the Alps.

Still a beginner (one year bike riding), I also suffer from the strange condition of being petrified of heights and actually wanting to jump into the abyss when I look over, or even get near the edge of any large drop.

So the trip was the perfect "feel the fear and do it anyway"

A sprained ankle one week before departure closed down that particular plan so it got delayed to 2008. That meant I had a few months to get used to the GS which I got in the winter.

I know a lot of folks on this site are very experienced so this may seem like kindergarten, but I wanted an excuse to share my pics

so here goes....

all packed and ready to go.



we took the train down to frejus. well recommended if you share with another bike (half the cost). You show up at Calais, ride on, they tie the bike, you settle in for a nice meal and a few drinks at the bar.

you leave Calais and its like this...



you arrive fresh and rested next morning and its like this...



We had a few days staying near Nice. By the way we timed the trip to fall before the french school holidays thereby minimising traffic on the roads. But we also had to go after the cols had opened. this left about a 4 week window (mid-June to mid-July).

We were very lucky. It rained only once on the last day of the trip in Geneva, and the roads were very empty once you travel 15 minutes inland.

It was very hot, but the scenery was lush and green since May and June had been very wet.





nice yacht in Antibes

 

[moon]

Before we headed north through the alps we took a few days to enjoy the med.

Here some french nautical custom



We took a few days to do a lap of the Gorge du Verdon. Well recommended indeed.






stayed the night in Castellane at the bonne auberge. this is the view from our room. very nice place to stay.




After some good resting we headed north up to the col de la bonnette. it was surprisingly hot even as we got higher. and the roads we almost deserted. heaven!

 

[D6]

nice trip,
dont matter how far u go, its the fun you have doing it,you have probably now rode further than 99 percent of british bikers

 

[moon]

At the top.

This is when we realised that gs 1200's are very popular for this kind of trip. at least 50% of the bikes we saw in the mountains were the same as ours!




Then we went round to the col de la cayolle.


then down through the gorges de daluis(see the red earth)

 

[moon]

Next was the col d'allos











We stayed a night at the hotel cristol in briancon. well recommended - its at the top end near the old walled town.


Here is the Col D'Izoard just south of Briancon

 

[moon]

I thought I had conquered my vertigo, until we climbed the Col du Galibier.

As we get closer to the summit, its no longer friendly looking grass and blue skies, its cloudy, windy, and dark rock. I am riding on the "bad" side (where the sheer drop is ). I am shaking, going very slowly, thanking god that there is no-one behind me, and praying some big van doesn't come down the hill towards me. She on the back says "are you still breathing? breathe! breathe!"




At last we get to the top. Phew. Big relief and smiles all round.



Then its on to the Col d'Iseran. This is very spectacular, both the climb up and on the top. Totally stunning and beautiful.



We stayed overnight at this hotel in Bourg St Maurice. It was a little pricey, but we felt we deserved it. Beautiful wooden floors and balconies.



Next day was the last before we arrived in Thonon.

The cols here arent as high, so not quite as spectacular. Much greener too. This is the Col du Colombier.

 

[moon]

Our last night we stayed just west of Thonon at this beautiful chalet in Sechez.

"Les Ronds dans l'eau"

Really recommended






After a day trip to Lausanne we then headed back to Calais.



Left at 7am. Arrived back in Brighton at 9 in the evening. A long day!





It was really the trip of a lifetime. Maybe there will be many more

Big thanks to Wapping, Robin and Franco for the advice you gave me before I left.

And of course to she on the back who is the perfect pillion

Finally lets not forget Shiree (yes she has a name ), who carried us up and down many mountains effortlessly and who didn't complain once.

She gets a picture all to herself

 

[Ogmios]

that was a nice read and good pics

Thanks for that.

 

[garfield]

that was a nice read and good pics

Thanks for that.

......

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Nice trip report and hope you do many more.

Maybe next time we`ll get to know "she`s" real name

 

[billynomates]

pukka

 

[flatvee]

Nice trip and report. Good on ya for having the balls to do it.

 

[Dave56]

Enjoyed that

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Very nice...

 

[AlanAce1967]

Brilliant

 

[stolzy]

Good stuff - now you' lost your cherry, you won't be able to stop.

 

[Aidan1150]

Good stuff - now you' lost your cherry, you won't be able to stop.

Never a truer word.

 

[Gauche Rider]

Hpe my forthcoming trip's as enjoyable. Well done.

 

[Norrie]

Enjoyed yer wee RR Moon I had ridden the Col De Allos and Cayolle earlier in the year when the snow was touching the bottom rim of the Col de Allos signpost I think they had just been opened. A German couple were the only other people on the road he on a 1200 and she was riding a 650 needless to say we didn't hang about.

Schultz

 

[Gazzabart]

well done

hi you 2
we met last year on a captains run from Newlands to the ace cafe
you told us of your fears and excitement with the bike
even then we knew you could do it
great pics and write up
hope tp see you soon
Gaz n Ruthie