Sun, Sea, and Ski - sod it Ill do all 3 :)

CuzGS

CuzGS

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So having paid a fortune for a course for work recently I binned my annual ski trip, but as I managed to bluff a pass first time I had a bit of leave to cram in before Apr 12 which I had expected to be used doing remedial training and a resit.

I mentioned at work that I fancied a bit of sun, but also missed my skiing , and also fancied a bike trip again and couldnt decide what to to. One of the chaps came straight back with, "cant you do all 3 in a onner", hmmmm plan hatched............

Firstly had to clean panniers from last trip as they were minging so had a think and came up with solution :)

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Right so planning consisted of, bollocks Ill cuff it and get down to the snow and see what happens. Book ferry one way, book first night in a de luxe Formule 1 hotel, (hot and cold running urinal included), and avoid motorways. Take kit, passport, credit card and cuff it on the way.

However never taken ski kit on bike, would it fit..............

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Yep, game on:D
 
So had to get newly powdered wheels and brakes fitted on the Thu to allow me to go away on another work thing Fri Sat Sun, the painters in Derby did a mega job and got them back to me, discs brakes and front spindle even went on easily :)

Back home Sun eve and packed in 15 mins, (dont over compicate things guys), ready for a bit of kip then depart at 0500 for a 1000 ferry- sadly it was about - 3 when I left, however this was not to last too long :)

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First day was ferry then hacked down France for about 150 miles before dossing in the hotel. Next morning woke to frost and icy roads :(

Gave it 30 mins and it was safe enough to crack on, right, S france and sun here we go :)

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So better do a bit of planning, tablet PC as Ill need that later for the drift HD footage :)

Coffee map and GPS, a view I know well

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So southwards towards the Alps, a pitstop at Chamonix Mont Blanc, wierd being there on a bike sat with skiers !

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Onwards through some great passes which I have on the Drift camera, Ill put them on when I get a chance, through the lovely village of Valoire which sadly had the southern entrance pass shut :(



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Unfortunately this meant a backtrack and going through the Frejus Tunnel, impressive engineering but;

A. Fucking Hot (+32)

B. Fucking expensive :(

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Right, wheres the sun..........................................

Ah, pulled off a map for no reason other than it looked nice I headed to La Grande Motte (translation, "The Big Punani"), for a bit of sun and hotel dossing for 2 nights, top place :)


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And superb hotel security ....................

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Awwww

Awwww,as i looked down the post i was sure hoping to see a ski poking out from somewhere :eek:,hope they provided a pillow for the GS aswell.
Nice start to trip report.:clap
 
Well I did think of strapping my bigfoot skis across the panniers but decided to rent a set in country :) Yes the hotel were v helpful and the bike became a bit of an attraction over the 2 days, maybe they had seen LWR :)
 
So a bit of combat laundry in order before pushing west towards the Pyrenees and Andorra

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The route took me past Sallagouse which is a French Military Mountain Flying School I had the pleasure of graduating from a few years ago, first time Id seen the main gate sober I think, v happy memories, great hosts and amazing flying

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So the route pressed west to Andorra along some amazing roads, the next 3 shots are taken from the same spot,

Amazing Views..........

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Amazing roads ahead..........

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Amazing roads already ridden............

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Right Im off to photobucket a few more shots.............:)
 
Great Report

Your off again Cuz, Great reading your report, DD sat next to me dribbling :)
 
3rd April and you're still pressing West heading towards Andorra ... thats a bloody long road.

Where's the rest of it or are you in competition with Skygod now. He's not made it back from the States yet.
 
Right, sorry about that, my laptop goes bananas trying to process anything other than porn :)

So eventually cracked into Andorra for the Ski bit, found a 18 quid a night hotel with underground parking and set about skiing :)

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Great to ski and be looking at the roads you will be riding in a few days too.......

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Sadly due to various factors,

A. Incredibly Sunny

B. Im a knob

I got burned on ski day 1 so had to adopt the "Rapist Skier" look for day 2 :tears

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oooohhh I cant wait for this skiing malarkey to be over :beerjug:

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Having said that found this place to stay, its ok but there is a mortar alarm every 15 mins and the food consists of range stew for every meal. The bedding is guaranteed to have at least 15 lots of NATO DNA on it and theres always the risk of the Mericans blowing it up, still at 18 quid Band B its a goddam steal:augie

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Right time to leave Andorra with just a quick stop to set up HD camera and take a few stills, Im so glad I made the effort to get to Andorra, Im now a big fan and will be back for sure. No queues and no arseholes on the slopes, great place and the roads are epic too :)

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Last stop prior to France and a dash through the Pyrenees, I want to have enough time to do Pegasus Bridge to visit friends in the cafe and take in a battlefield tour of Caen


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Ill save you the tedium of France S to N and hop straight to my next must do on trip, visit the hallowed ground of Pegasus Bridge, I wont bore you with why this place matters but google it if you dont know, an amazing place which is truly ledgendary in the history books

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Site of the original bridge, the new one pleasingly looks the same

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Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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