Linking the Pyrenees and Alps

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Having done trips to both the Pyrenees and the Alps previously, the bit missing was exploring the French Alps particularly aiming for the Route de Grandes Alpes. However I was not looking for a there and back route and so, with some assistance from others on this forum, came up with the following plan.

We had two weeks to play with.

The Brittany Ferries Cap Finistere from Portsmouth to Bilbao was our host, on the sunday sailing which has a stop in Roscoff, meaning your road journey starts first thing on Tuesday morning.

At least some of the boarding staff have a sense of humour.

The stop at Roscoff is a quick one.

Plenty of bikers on board. One guy meeting up with his family for their summer holiday in Spain. One lad on his way to his mate's wedding in Tuscany.

The Bay of Biscay was kind to us as we sat back watching the Tour de France.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

To Pau

Leaving the Port of Bilbao is an easy departure as all the bikers are waved straight through customs. I bit of early morning congestion on the motorway before we start to make progress.

The route heads towards Pamplona cutting the corner off by going across country on a Michelin green road and the journey begins

Back onto the motorway around Pamplona and we find one of our favourite roads around Lake Yesa is now directly linked by motorway.

We then head north towards the Pyrenees on a fabulous piece of road (NA 137) with gorges and gentle hairpins taking us up the Spanish side of the mountains.

Over the Col de la Pierre St Martin and it's all vey quiet (no complaints).

I ride into Pau with a wide grin - what a way to start the trip

We are staying at the Hotel Bristol which is central with parking.

Pau is a nice spot which manages to accommodate tourism with tradition.

Make mine a Guinness

Are bar staff an endangered species?

Could be trouble with the vultures around

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Great so far-keep it coming I have an idea for a similar trip in the future

 

[Homer1968]

Great so far-keep it coming I have an idea for a similar trip in the future

Me too, i've just got back from the Alps but been looking for some time how to link the Pyrenees up to the Alps . Enjoying this

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Gorges de Galamus

I was informed in no uncertain terms that this had to be part of my route

So with thunder and lightning over the Pyrenees and in rain we set off east towards the south coast of France and our destination Sete.

A quick bit of motorway, the rain stopped, before we came off on to the D117 through a number of towns including Foix.

The roads were nice and flowing across the French countryside.

Whilst we had some time on our hands, an 11km detour was given a miss

From a fairly flat route so far we stopped to overlook the descent into Quillan and the start of the Gorges area.

Lunch was taken in St Paul de Fenouillet.

Before we headed to the main event.

A reminder we were in Catalan country.

The Gorges have a traffic light system - but these were not working so it was every man for themselves including pedestrians.

Not really a riding experience - more of a natural wonder

 

[Roberto]

Great stuff.. lovely pics

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Sete

We stayed here 2 nights to give the opportunity for some beach time.

The planned route in was a coastal road from Cap d'Agde which separated in inland lake from the sea i.e. hopefully scenic

This was the final stretch on Saturdays Tour de France stage. The road is below sea level and lined with 'ferns?' which meant zero view. We could have been anywhere.

Sete has a canal network.

We had booked the excellent Grand Hotel.

He even got his own room (he deserved it )

We were hoping for some great seafood restaurants but Sete is too touristy and the main front is a series of all you can eat for €20 jobs. We had to go into the backstreets to find anything decent but overall really disappointing

We went around to the beach to find a Red Bull rave underway with plenty of young Brits around.

In the evening canal side stands had been erected to witness some traditional boat-jousting

Keeping the water theme going we finished with a few of these :beer jug:

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Gorges du Verdon + Castellane

Says it all

We left Sete going along the coastline before coming inland through the very nice Camargue region. A few motorways later we entered the Verdon region going past the nuclear research facility ITER at St Paul les Durance.

Here we go

It's really worth making the effort to see this unique region

Our stop for the evening was the hotel du Commerce in Castellane which was first class and combined well with the Italian in the square.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Route des Grandes Alpes

It took us 8 hours to get to Val d'Isere over:

Col d'Allos (1792m) - very narrow and not that enjoyable.

Col de Vars (2109m) - OK, nice and flowing

Col du Galibier (2642m) - great pass made better with the cycling event with over 8000 riders.

Col de L'Iseran (2770m) - snow around but getting tired by this point.

On to the Galibier and the human snake of cyclists on both sides of the mountain mixing it with the traffic

A wait at the top for a few cyclists to come through before the one way tunnel.

Then the descent into the Valloire area which looked great (stones on the mountainside).

Quite a lot of summer re-surfacing ensued which provided a frustrating end to the day and we limped over the last Col before descending into Val d'Isere.

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Excellent so far Cooperman, great photos and write up.

Off to follow in your footsteps again but Castellane and Route Des Grandes Alpes only.

Keep it coming fella.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

St Bernard Passes, Furka & Andermatt

Val d'Isere was a great let down

It was dead. Previously in summer I have been to Chamonix which was active. VDI was no where near as busy - but I think this could be the case with a few French alpine resorts

This was as friendly as it got

We went up the cable car - nothing open and the car stopped for lunch

Would you dare press a button with any tackle exposed

One interesting fact was that at 1800m altitude it takes longer to boil an egg

The route for the day.

The first task was Petite St Bernard.

Then into the valley around Aosta before the great ride up the Grand St Bernard

It's well worth a stop at the top

The man himself.

and his dogs

Dropped down to Martigny and a bit of a valley drag towards Furka.

Couldn't lose this guy in a 50 limit

OK - Furka time.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Andermatt to Bavaria

Andermatt has sold it's soul to the devil.

An Egyptian development company is currently undertaking a dubious mega development to upgrade the town into a top ski resort. Sales so far are not good but in the interim it's bloody noisy We stayed in the Aurora where a new road is being slowly built but work starts at 7am

We had one of the best meals here on the trip. I can't remember the name of the place but it was just over the other side of the river - past the devil.

At least I found out more about white van divers

A must is Lake Lucerne, the colour of which is incredible.

I must admit the riding through Switzerland was tame due the consequence of speeding i.e. the beauty for me of riding a bike is you get past the slow traffic to enjoy the clear roads, but is overtaking worth the risk of a £1K fine

On towards lake Constance (Bodensee). We had previously been to the opera at Begenz in Austria and called in to see the latest production. The stage is in the lake.

Bregenz mind games

Then onto a stop at our skiing location of Bad Oberdorf near Oberjoch.

Chance to clean the bike.

And chill

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Time to go home

We planned a stop on the Moselle river at the Post Hotel in Klotten - a bikers favourite.

The Autobahns were horrendous with road works, especially the stretch from Stuttgart to Karlsruhe

We booked a room with a river view - you get a railway view for free

Great parking for the bikes

The owner Klaus cooks a mean meal, but having to go back to the room to get the check in card to record your couple of drinks with the meal was a PITA

Also it was the worst WIFI connection of the trip meaning we had to stop here on the way back to Rotterdam for a Mc Surf

And at Rotterdam on the ferry back to Hull our trip ends.

It really felt a lot longer than 2 weeks :beer jug:

Thanks for reading.