The plan for last years Euro trip was for me to do a solo bike run to the South of France to meet the family who were on a mini-break to Cannes. They managed the journey in around 3 hrs courtesy of EasyJet but I would take 6 days as I wanted to see a little bit of Switzerland and Italy on the way. Shortly before departure day (22 June 2017) it became apparent that the new Triumph Tiger 800 I had ordered 3 months beforehand still wouldn't be ready for delivery so I would be doing this on my V-Strom instead. Day 1 was (for us Scottish lads) the usual dreary slog down to the tunnel then another 30 miles into France for an overnight stop in Saint-Omer The only other bike on the train (a Triumph Sprint ST) unfortunately had to be pushed off by staff as it wouldn't start. Hope the poor fella got it going after I had to leave. Day 2 was another mile muncher East towards the Vosges Mountains, I had a room booked here - http://en.liondor.com Day 3 it started to liven up. Fantastic run up and down the Route des Cretes towards the Swiss border and a stopover in Pontarlier. Day 4 Switzerland and Italy with a night in the Hotel Arolla, Bourg Saint Maurice. Lake Geneva Col du Grand Saint-Bernard Swiss/Italian border Day 5 - BSM to Barcelonnette with a overnighter in a really nice place in the town square - http://www.hotel-barcelonnette.fr/uk/ This was the 'big' Col day..... L'Iseran, Galibier, I'zoard and Vars........ fantastic
Onwards and now sticking roughly to - Day 6 Down to the Med After a couple of days off the bike it was time to u-turn and head home. Decided I would do Route Napoleon (taking in the Gorge du Verdun) to Grenoble then autoroute home. Had to have a night in the Du Levant, Castellane though. My fav town in France Arrived at my hotel in Dijon and the phone rang......... "Mr Henderson it's Sarah from Edinburgh Triumph.... your Tiger is ready" 19 hours and 854 miles later I was in the dealers carpark (thank you Sargent Seats) picking up the keys. I'm doing it all again this year (leaving June 20), slightly different route but most definitely on my new Tiger
Thanks. 650 ..... or a 'Glee' as it's commonly called on the V-Strom forum. Love that bike too, it wasn't a problem taking that to the SoF.
