dub = fucked corolla/jetta diesel
Hatcho's Solo deTour of Europe
- Thread starter Hatcho
- Start date
As I made my way west the temps started to rise. With no schedule to follow or deadline to meet, it was time to stop for another lift me up and cool me down... I'm liking this solo holiday malarkey. 
Grand view from my table...
Grand view from my table...
I haven't ever crossed a bridge that big on foot, so no idea. I think some of it might be that I get a bit anxious when riding in high crosswinds and am rightly or wrongly anticipating them prior to crossing big bridges. Whatever the reason, I now route plan to avoid them. On my last trip to Scotland I avoided Humber and Forth bridges, then later took a wrong turning and had to cross the Erskine bridge and it was hell. Fortunately bridges of that size don't exist down here in the south west. It does mean that trips with other riders would be difficult if the route included such bridges.
Sorry about the thread sidetrack Sean.
Indeed you are, but I think that was some time ago in my case! I have only been young once, yet manage to be continually foolish!
I rode over that one shortly after it opened. There was low mist along the river, and you couldn't see the top of the bridge...we rode up into it, and then emerged into sunshine, with the mist below us!
Been a great read this. Have you decided to stay put in the alps...!?!
Where are you Hatcho? Everything ok?
Apologies folks, since retuning home I've not had a chance to update the trip report. Right now I'm wishing I was still roaming the French alps but ye can't have it all your own way. I'll pick up the story over the next couple of days.
So where was I as the saying goes... My apologies for the dearth of posts, it's been pretty manic since I returned home...
My apologies for the dearth of posts, it's been pretty manic since I returned home...
Ah yes, on my way into France to find myself some balcony roads to enjoy....
Shortly after my coke and coffee break I witnessed most of the 2 wheeled Gendarmerie pass me by in the opposite direction. I sat there wishfully hoping this was not a response to reports of a Paddy biker 'making progress' along the wonderful French tarmac. Thankfully no one paid me any attention and they headed on their merry way. I wonder does the opening of a new patisserie have the same effect on the French police as a doughnut shop has on our Gardaí.
With a fair chunk of the two wheeled Gendarmes now behind me, I was able to settle into enjoying the smooth sweeping tarmac and the stunning views all around...check out the gorgeous BMW 2002 at the very start of this clip!
After the few days of gravel riding, the sheer grip that tarmac has to offer was too good to refuse. The GS felt like she was riding a set of rails! There really is no better place than sat astride two wheels with a silly grin on your face. And the funny bit - this was just the random route I'd chosen to get to the balcony roads I was keen to see. Living. The. Dream.
Shortly after my coke and coffee break I witnessed most of the 2 wheeled Gendarmerie pass me by in the opposite direction. I sat there wishfully hoping this was not a response to reports of a Paddy biker 'making progress' along the wonderful French tarmac. Thankfully no one paid me any attention and they headed on their merry way. I wonder does the opening of a new patisserie have the same effect on the French police as a doughnut shop has on our Gardaí.
With a fair chunk of the two wheeled Gendarmes now behind me, I was able to settle into enjoying the smooth sweeping tarmac and the stunning views all around...check out the gorgeous BMW 2002 at the very start of this clip!
After the few days of gravel riding, the sheer grip that tarmac has to offer was too good to refuse. The GS felt like she was riding a set of rails! There really is no better place than sat astride two wheels with a silly grin on your face. And the funny bit - this was just the random route I'd chosen to get to the balcony roads I was keen to see. Living. The. Dream.
Each and every way I looked there was something cool to see. Lakes (lacs) all over the place filled with emerald coloured water. Some natural, some artificial but all of them stunning in their own right. Quite a few moons ago I'd travelled through this part of France, in the meantime I'd forgotten just how stunning it really is...
Soon we were entering into the Gorges that this part of France is so famous for. It was nice to pass the slow moving traffic and enjoy the twisty sections all to myself....
A quick bimble out to tick off another thing off the list was turning out to be an epic day on the bike. Little did I know the best was still to come...
Soon we were entering into the Gorges that this part of France is so famous for. It was nice to pass the slow moving traffic and enjoy the twisty sections all to myself....
A quick bimble out to tick off another thing off the list was turning out to be an epic day on the bike. Little did I know the best was still to come...
Wasn't long before I reached my target - the D219. It starts in Le Bourg-d'Oisans and coming out of the town you are greeted by a lovely small road surrounded by greenery on both sides. Eventually you join onto the D210 and arrive into a town called Villaret. But before you do, you get to enjoy this...
Exactly what I'd been seeking - a balcony road literally carved into the side of a cliff face with a serious drop off to one side. It's a pity the action cam doesn't really do it justice, but believe me it was a looong way down!
Exactly what I'd been seeking - a balcony road literally carved into the side of a cliff face with a serious drop off to one side. It's a pity the action cam doesn't really do it justice, but believe me it was a looong way down!
I'll admit it I rode this stretch of road several times over - it just got better each time. Glutton for enjoyment so I am - ye should have seen the grin on me! Know when you've something that you really, really want to do? And then you're in the moment when it's come to pass, tis a great feeling, and I couldn't get enough of it. Again and again this trip has surpassed my expectations and my highest hopes. This wee bit of road might not be much of a big deal to someone else, but I was right where I wanted to be at that very moment. Even writing this retrospectively I can remember vividly the layered joy.
So here's me coming back down again.....
And going back up again....
So here's me coming back down again.....
And going back up again....
As they say...all good things must come to an end must continue on for the rest of the day! Continuing on along the D210 the French countryside offered lovely vistas, quiet rural roads and a variety of wildlife along the way...
For the rest of the spin I just meandered along taking in the sights, smells, bends, hills, dips and anything else that came my way. I was in no rush back to Camping Bosco - this was my last luggage-free spin on the bike and I was going to make the most of it. To say I took a fairly circuitous route home would be a bit of an understatement, but sure why not? My route back to base took me southeastwards along the D1091. I even took a wee detour up to Alpe d'Huez and back down once I spotted what it looked like on Google Maps! Be rude not to.
I passed over Col du Lautaret where there was bit of a tailback due to roadworks. Joined the queue like a good boy, but once the contra-flow traffic all passed by I popped on down to the front of the queue.
My route took me through Briancon, and then onto Oulx and eventually I was rolling in Gran Bosco Camping. What a day! After parking up I noticed the tyres had gotten a good oul scrubbing, and they were pretty much the only part of the bike that looked clean!
Tonight's dinner was self catering so I could use up some of the food I'd purchased previously. Would mean less to carry as I returned to touring in the morning. No pics this time, but with my cooking skills you can be confident it looked very similar to my previous in-house meal!
For the rest of the spin I just meandered along taking in the sights, smells, bends, hills, dips and anything else that came my way. I was in no rush back to Camping Bosco - this was my last luggage-free spin on the bike and I was going to make the most of it. To say I took a fairly circuitous route home would be a bit of an understatement, but sure why not? My route back to base took me southeastwards along the D1091. I even took a wee detour up to Alpe d'Huez and back down once I spotted what it looked like on Google Maps! Be rude not to.
I passed over Col du Lautaret where there was bit of a tailback due to roadworks. Joined the queue like a good boy, but once the contra-flow traffic all passed by I popped on down to the front of the queue.
My route took me through Briancon, and then onto Oulx and eventually I was rolling in Gran Bosco Camping. What a day! After parking up I noticed the tyres had gotten a good oul scrubbing, and they were pretty much the only part of the bike that looked clean!
Tonight's dinner was self catering so I could use up some of the food I'd purchased previously. Would mean less to carry as I returned to touring in the morning. No pics this time, but with my cooking skills you can be confident it looked very similar to my previous in-house meal!
Good one! Thanks for taking the time to write it all up and share it.
The gift that keeps on giving! Much to people's chagrin
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