Route Napoleon to Bastogne

[grayinthestores]

This year’s trip was to Route Napoleon and a visit to Bastogne on the return leg.

Day 1
7am start in Leicester with a couple of easy stops one for Coffee and a petrol stop in Ashford we arrived for the 12.30 Chunnel crossing.
Jubilee weekend this Friday was the busiest ever for Euro Tunnel; apparently everyone was escaping the weather and the celebrations.
We cross in to France and have a steady ride to Reims to our hotel a premier class not the biggest room but for one night bearable.

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We were next to a hippo grill, a couple of beers later and quite a nice burger and it was off for a good nights sleep ready for an early start.

Day 2
We are all awake early and up and out for 5am satnav programmed and away we go the roads are clear and we start to make good progress until we discover the auto route is new and the satnav is lost and it takes us a while to sort out with road signs which way to go.
The sun is rising and the dew over the country side is spookily like mist on the ocean if I could have found somewhere to stop it would have made a great picture. We press on and stop after about an hour and a half for fuel and breakfast. The routine of 100miles and stop now is in full swing and we making great progress, as the day passes and the further south we go it gets hotter and eventually

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I take the liners out of my jacket and open all the vents this is much better and a relief from the weather at home.

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The last toll, then on to Route Napoleon. We have a stop to get out of Motorway mode ready for a bit of fun. The trip now takes a different pace and the winding twisty roads and small town add interest to the journey. I have read on here the many people who have been this way but wow the scenery is breathtaking. And this continues for the next 2 hours or so until we get to our campsite in castellane.

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We had a caravan booked which was spacious and clean after a shower it was beer time and well earned I think too.


Day 3
The touring day we were late up and had a leisurely breakfast of coffee and croissants, then set out for Grasse.

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Once again the route was scenic and we ended up having coffee in a small town with a Sunday market.
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We decide to route to Gorges du Verdon We stop at a caffe which is opposite one of the main viewing areas and seem to be a popular bike stop there is even a TR6 complete with picnic basket on the back the whole thing feels like the italian Job.

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We take the scienic route back which turns out to be the correct decision as we pass ove a viaduct complete with bunjee jumpers and then trough tunnels cut in to the rock.

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A whole series of twist and switchbacks are encountered with more than once a Tw@ in car or van coming aound thecorner on my side of the road. A stop off on the way back for Cheese, Bread and Wine and the world seems a better place. Back at camp the heavens open and it rains most of the night.

Day 4
We leave about 6 am for the ride to Bastogne. After about an hour it starts to pour down and we stop so my mate can kit up for the wet. The routine of 100miles continues again till we reach the campsite in Bastogne 2 nights here and a full day off the bike to have a good look around.
Day 5
Bastogne Once again a late morning, we walk in to the town square and sit down for coffee and breakfast.

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Pictures with the Sherman and then off to the American monument (Museum closed )
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on the way back we call in to an exhibition ( I was 20 in 1945) this was very good and worth a visit.

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Day 6
Back to the UK

 

[patzx12]

Really good pictures, just back from Millau myself France is Gods country for bikers.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Heading to Castellane in 2 weeks. I hope you left it in good shape

 

[buellzebub]

on the way back we call in to an exhibition ( I was 20 in 1945) this was very good and worth a visit.

You look good for 87 !! What's your secret?

Excellent pics, look's like you had a good time

 

[Rasher]

Thanks for posting

 

[Fordy]

<img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/grayinthestores/Route%20Napoleon/DSC_0971.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

We had a caravan booked which was spacious and clean after a shower it was beer time and well earned I think too.

Nice report

Got a link to the campsite, looks great.

 

[Piaf]

Nice route and nice report, made even better by leaving the UK while all the 'Royal' rubbish was on.

 

[Bryn]

You look good for 87 !! What's your secret?

He had a short paper round as a kid during the depression

 

[grayinthestores]

Nice report

Got a link to the campsite, looks great.

www.campinginternational.com
Kawan Village International RN85 Route Napoleon 04120 Castellane
well worth it there is a shop on site and it was very reasonable a bottle of wine was a few euros

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Thanks for posting,heading there in August this year. Your pics reminded me why we chosen that area.

 

[Fordy]

Thanks, saved for a future trip

www.campinginternational.com
Kawan Village International RN85 Route Napoleon 04120 Castellane
well worth it there is a shop on site and it was very reasonable a bottle of wine was a few euros

 

[Homer1968]

Enjoyed that, we're down near Castellane a week tomorrow.I hope the weather is as good for us

 

[teejay]

Great write up, was there 1st to 10th June, we did Caen to Millau then across to Gorge du Verdon and up Route Napolean, weather good all the way bar 1 day.

Teejay

 

[AndyT]

Realy enjoyed that - Gorge du Verdon is on my list of 'must sees'....

AndyT