Just a quick thankyou to all who gave advice...
Just to says thansks...Yes the trip was great.
Ill try and post piccies elsewhere and a bit of a road trip write up, but to summerise...
Yep, Route des Grandes Alpes should be taken over a 3 day trip. I managed about 1 1/2 days, late start from home, and arrived in Briancon the following lunch time (after getting lost in Italy, no fuel, warning lights on the dashboard - electrical foolery due to heavy rain???). Grande Alps is a great ride, if tiring, but best when there are is little traffic. Roads had a lot of german camper vans to get round in the middle of the day. From Briancon, where I stopped for lunch, checked the clock and decided to stop the ride over the mountains and headed onto Gap, and Sisteron, then Dignes on RN, then accross on N202 - Fantastic ride. The N202 is a Fantastic ride, down in the Vallee du Var (?). Gorges, rivers, good tarmac, no cars...great.
Picked up some more fuel in Nice ( Not bad - Briancon to Nice on 2/3rd tank!). Then out along the coast road, during sunset, past Monaco, Eve Rock (?) to Cap Martin, just as the light was fading.
Arrived late at about 9pm.
The trip back was great - apart from "taking a spin" in Nice central, in traffic due to hitting a diesel spill
(..Is there any way to stay upright ??
). The bike just lost all grip, the rear wheel spinning, and just flung me round through 90 degrees in the traffic. Luckily there was someone who stopped and helped me with the bike, but S*%t what an experience!. Had to take Nice to Cannes, the up to Grasse. Roads were not very well posted and I had to change direction at the last moment to get to the starte of the Route Napoleon.
Honestly, the Route Napoleoon happened too fast - I should have stopped more. I didnt get to see the "Big man" ...where is he ? but the roads great. Would have like to stop at avery village / town (Sisteron and Corps especially). Ended up staying just south of Grenoble for a night.
Woke up early and headed across to Chamonix - Martigny. Lots of bikers - A lot of english as well. Tried to follow a R12GS, two up into Chamonix - but by that time I was tired, and wanted more to take in the views. Dropped down into Martigny, then blast up the motorway/autoroute home.
Did about 1700Kms in total - Bike never missed a beat apart from a few warning lights due to weather I guess. I will check that out.
Id love to do it all again, plan differently this time, appreciate that 600Kms on a mountain is not the same as 600 kms on the autoroute ! Hopefully, given the opportunity I shall do it all again next year (..apart from the spill in Nice), but take a week, stop more and hopefully have SWMBO with me.
Equipment was good - My set of ARD cases certainly helped save me in the fall. Just a small scratch on the cases - but not on my legs. Couldnt fault my New Avon Distanzias (got a good deal on them as well), Phact 3 tent - good.
Will post piccies soon.
Thanks again to all
F2L
