French Alps and more

[Flipfly]

Got back and thought I'd share our experiences.

Mrs Flip and I set of in crappy weather and set off to the Chunnel. It was uneventful and the crappy weather continued through France. As usual we avoided major roads and headed off towards Dijon.

After a night in Lille and a night in Dijon, the weather perked up and we headed off to the st Bernadino pass. Going through Lussanne was a nightmare but we finally got going and hit the pass late in the afternoon.

A lovely twisty little road wiggled it's way up into the mountains and at the top we took a quick piccy.

 

[Flipfly]

We twisted down the other side and found a nice little campsite in Aosta underneath nice warm skies.

 

[Flipfly]

The next day took us up past the Tignes Dam, Val D'Isere and past Lake Ferrara. Thanks to SatNav (TwatNav) we ended up taking a little excursion between some little mountain houses. The streets were so slim that a fat lad on a fully loaded Daker almost struggled to get through. By the time it widened Liz was getting naffed off at this detour, but she's smiling really
The little lane that goes past Ferrara is beautiful and twists and turns in a really remote area.

 

[Flipfly]

We found our way to Bardonecchia by mid afternoon, so decided to take a run up the Stella Alpina route. This is a wonderful area and here I got my first glimpse of ITALIAN BEAVER

Unfortunately the little critter was too fast and camera shy, but I know what I saw, and it was really cute and fluffy

On the run back down I got attacked by a deer who jumped in front of me, thankfully my electric reactions save the beast (or it could have been pure luck ). Again far too quick for the camera, but those signs that say beware of deer, take notice cause sometimes they do

 

[Flipfly]

We stayed overnight in a hotel and headed off out down some lovely little twisty remote roads, heading over to the Col D'Iseran and the Col de Bonnette. No pictures can describe the majesty of the views and the quality of the roads. But here's a few.

 

[Flipfly]

After a view of a must do lane at the top of the Col de Bonnette, we wiggled our way down towards Nice and Monaco. We ended up doing some more impromptu T*at Nav off roading too.

 

[Flipfly]

We stayed in Ventemillia (avoid if possible!!!!) and then on to Savona which was nice enough but a bit touristy (although not brit tourists).

The following day we rested and then headed off for lake como.

Not a bad days ride really at first, some nice twisty roads and little traffic off the beaten track, but it soon turned into big long straights and a bit of a pain until we camped down in como.

Found a nice site, mainly German so clean and quiet.

Spent a rest day there too as the lake was great to swim in, it was 36 degrees and the sky was cloudless

 

[tarry]

We twisted down the other side and found a nice little campsite in Aosta underneath nice warm skies.

Nice report and pics flip, was that tent big enough for you?

 

[Flipfly]

We then headed off to the Stelvio pass, Umbrial pass and then a couple of others that I'm not 100% of the names but the ofen pass and fluela pass ring a bell.
The Stelvio was amazing to look at, but the ride over the ofen pass was far superior. Shocked a couple of local road warriors on the fully loaded Dak
Stayed at lake Konstanz which was beautiful and then it rained through France so we legged it back

I hope this hasn't been too boring but I'll leave you with a few piccies that will always be with me

 

[Ash]

damn fine report old bean

 

[AndyT]

Thanks for that Flip - I had never though the area North of Monte Carlo and Nice was so interesting I may just have to try it although I don't think I will have time next month as I am heading over to the Picos before France.

Great report

AndyT

 

[John Armstrong]

Italian Beaver?

More likely: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot sorry

 

[AlanAce1967]

Brilliant, wish i was there, those mountain passes look amazing, my neighbour is off to Austria in the morning, jammy git, ill have to go myself next year.

Alan

 

[John Armstrong]

Thanks for that Flip - I had never though the area North of Monte Carlo and Nice was so interesting I may just have to try it although I don't think I will have time next month as I am heading over to the Picos before France.

Great report

It's stunning, great passes that can have snow around them in the summer and down in the valleys roasting hot

Bet you saw a few GS's as well

Great pics and report

 

[Norrie]

Andy

Speak to Franco he'll keep you right with rides in that area Slightly further west you have the Gorge de Tarn and then the Grand Canyon du Verdun amazing road's and scenery and check out Moon's recent RR I was playing in that area earlier in the year but didn't get the weather they got.

Schultz

No Hi jack intended Flipfly enjoyed yer RR

 

[sycomoto]

Green with envy

Looks fab bro. gutted i didn't do it with ya. hey ho.

 

[Mzokk]

Good stuff that. Must get down that way again sometime

 

[Flipfly]

Italian Beaver?

More likely: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot sorry

No your definately wrong, I saw Italian beaver

I saw a few of those marmot things too

 

[Flipfly]

It's stunning, great passes that can have snow around them in the summer and down in the valleys roasting hot

Bet you saw a few GS's as well

Great pics and report

Like this you mean

 

[John Armstrong]

No your definately wrong, I saw Italian beaver

I saw a few of those marmot things too

Glad you saw some nice Italian Beaver