Stella Alpina 10/11 July 2004

[franco]

had a grand weekend up there with Spanish Bob and Oscar from Barcelona...also met up with Flying Dutchman and Paul Jackson from this forum...A great ride up from Nice over a few Cols including the Bonette, Vars and Echelle into Italy. Not as many bikes as last year apparently...Too cold for us mediterranean types at sub 20C..Going back next year, to drink even more beer.

 

[franco]

Further up

It was a lot colder than it looks in these piccies....

 

[franco]

On the way up.

View from the Col de la Bonette (2802metres)...More than two-thirds of the bikes we saw here were GS's, with our rarer Adventure models attracting admirers...

 

[franco]

More pics..

The rest of them will end up in the gallery here...
http://morrisons.smugmug.com/gallery/161480/

 

[Grizz]

MMMmmm....

As usual, Franco,
Brilliant pics, and envy fully provoked.... The Hogroast was good too though.
Keep it up (the pics)

 

[franco]

Cheers Grizz..

Don't be envious, get on your bike and get down there next year...Otherwise, you'll regret it...

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Greetings from London

Hey Franco, Spanish Bob

Nice to see you guys at the Stella – Look forward to seeing you next year.

Regards

FD.

 

[Spanish Bob]

Just got back

will post fotos later.

Had a great time, From getting a pissed at Franco´s Ranch and bike shop in the hills near nice up until taking the motrway home!

as for the cold. Bugger me its snowed like hell at the top of the Stelvio! Great trip. a few more passes bagged but the Stella finished a bit short this year. Also very few dirty bikers turned up - still 2005 will be a good year because more UKGSers will be there RIGHT!

more later

cheers

bob
PS: MrTickle? were you there?
PPS: ROB - we´ll have to do some more stuff around Castellane! very good nearly drove straight into the lake! WOrst bastille day concert I have ever heard and I´ve heard some rubbish!

 

[Spanish Bob]

FD

estupendo, apunto!

great tomeet you and Paul.

cheers

bob

 

[Spanish Bob]

I´m the silly arse in the beige trousers!

http://spanishbob.smugmug.com/gallery/165109

bob

Grizz - see you next year or what?

 

[franco]

Hola!

Glad you made it back safe and dry...looks like you had crap weather once I left you.
Definitely going to do the Stella again next year, and a trip round Castellane sounds the biz. We should sort that before the end of the summer...say mid October ??

 

[Spanish Bob]

Mid Oct sounds good!

bob

 

[Invicta Moto]

Did you see the Vespa up there?

http://www.webreportage.be/bl.diffusion/stellaalpina/index.htm

 

[Spanish Bob]

oh yeah Franco had a quite a chat with him. Nice bloke, he brought it to Bardonecchia which is cheating really.

 

[Invicta Moto]

oh yeah Franco had a quite a chat with him. Nice bloke, he brought it to Bardonecchia which is cheating really.

Ah, his web page doesn't actually infer how he got there from Belgium..... I thought it was a trip and half by hairdryer from Belgie!

 

[pheasant plucker]

stella

Did you see the Vespa up there?
Due to time constraints our small group, 2 80GS and one MZ Baghira went up on Saturday, on the way down there was a guy in shirtsleeves on a fully dressed imaculate and canary yellow Honda Goldwing going up!
It was a great ride, I am already looking forward to the next one!

 

[johnl]

small group.

had to be a small group, a picnic table will only sleep 3 people at 2 O'clock in the morning on the way home. Not sure what the french lorry drivers thought when they heard us snoring!
Incredible scenery.
Met some nice folks aswell.