Featured Touring Cote D'azur And French Alps

@Hubaxe: No we didn't. Before riding days we don't drink any alcohol. Only on off-days. Therefore we "missed" it.

 

Day 7 - Part 1:

Today we rode from Die over beautiful mountain roads and passes via Grenoble and a national park to Briancon. The weather was wonderful. Unlike yesterday, hardly any wind and summer temperatures in the cities and on the mountains minimum 7 degrees Celsius. With appropriate undergarments no problem.
We enjoyed unique views from the Col de Rousset and Combe de Laval. In a 600 m high rock face one has simply blown a road in.
Driving on these French mountain roads is no problem, since all roads are very well developed and have a maximum gradient of 7%. So no comparison what we already know from other countries. But in many places you have to watch out for the "rolling stones" that fall down in all sizes on the mountain roads.
Tomorrow we will drive again over numerous mountain roads and passes to Cuneo in Italy.
To be continued.

Our todays tour from Die via Grenoble to Briancon.



In the morning our first great views from the Col de Rousset






I didn't know till today that there are machines for Baguettes existing!








The lake Lac du Chambon


I disturbed this little guy during it's sunbath.

 

Day 7- Part 2:

Some great views of the Combe de Laval











Some impressions of Briancon

 

@Dougie D: Thanks! It was nearly unbelievable!!!

 

@Vulpes: You are right.
Because of all the long days on the bikes, we've been doing it this way for years. Better safe than sorry.

 

@Bikerman:
You are right!
I will come up with some more the next days.

 

@andyc1:
Thanks! Let's see what we can find on our way tomorrow.

 

@Sandi T:
You are right! I just can say it is wonderful. In the nexts hours I will come up with the tour of today.

 

Day 8 - Part 1:
Today was our alpine day. At 0730 was the start in Briancon. After a few minutes we already climbed the Col d'Izoard over a very well developed pass road, which leads with numerous hairpin bends up to 2,360 m above sea level. Already on the way up an unbelievable scenery showed up, which became all the more impressive the higher one came. Then we continued to the Col de Vars with its pass at 2,108 m above sea level. From there we continued to the village of Jausiers, where we treated ourselves to a second breakfast. After this refreshment we rode the pass road to the Col de La Bonette with the pass at 2,715 m and an extra loop even further to 2,804 m above sea level. Subsequently, we descended a little at short notice to the village of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee. From there we started the way to the alpine border crossing to Italy on the Col de la Lombarde at 2,350 m above sea level. From the Italian border, the road underwent a complete change. The road on the French side, which had been built to a high standard, was suddenly only half as wide and the asphalt surface was in part extremely poor. In addition, a vintage car rally with historic vehicles conducted by Swiss participants crossed our path several times, which was always exciting on the Italian side because of the narrow conditions. The rally was attended by: Ferrari Testarossa, GTO, and others; numerous Porsche 911, 914; Jaguar Type E Cabrio; Aston Martin DB5; Ford Mustang Coupe 1965; various old Alfa Romeo models and many others. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of these vehicles, as we always met them between our photo stops.
In Pratolungo-Roviera we came out of the alpine part into the flat area of the province of Piedmont via the SP255 road and lead around 40 kilometers further to Cuneo.
The whole day tour took about 7 hours with all the breaks and photo stops and was really very demanding.
According to the calculation with Google Maps, we drove at least 5,363 vertical meters up and 6,133 vertical meters down today. The hairpin bends probably run into the hundreds.
Tomorrow we continue from Cuneo to Vinzenca as the first stage of our return trip to Austria.
To be continued.

Our todays tour from Briancon in France via parts of the French and Italian Alps to Cuneo in Italy.















A real biker meal. Omlet with cheese and some adons.

 

Day 8 - Part 2:
More unbelievable impressions of our alpine tour today.

 

@Vulpes: I fully agree with you! It is great to ride in this part of the world!

 

@Bikerman: Thanks! It was really great but exhausting too.