The call of the Cols

[ChubbyThumper]

Time to head in the general direction of Cherbourg for my ferry in three days time

After an early morning run to the refuge with Stanbloke and the lads I came back, packed up and headed for Nevache and Briancon over a beautiful little road beside Bokki camping. At the Col de Galibiere turn off from the D1091 the road was closed for a cycle race. Gendarmes all over the place directing traffic and I met up with Donnie and Buckles who had left camp before me.







Donnie and Buckles chilling. Thats only part of Col de Galibiere zig zagging upwards in the background.




We had an hour to kill till the road opened so put the time in as best we could.
A little trick I have perfected over the years



No Galibiere shots as we all wanted to make up some time after hanging around so long. The day ended in the Municipal campsite in Macon. An excellent spot with a good shop, swimming pool etc. My French neighbour came rushing over to show me a mobile phone photo of his 83 Triumph as I was putting the tent up. His comment on my KTM was, too beeg too beeg ( arms waving ). Bikes are great icebreakers..

[ChubbyThumper]

Plan was, Macon to Luzy using D roads after several deviations and the damned Zumo “ recalculating “ several times we made it to Luzy and then intercepted the Canal lateral a la Loire at Decize rode alongside it to Imphy where I stopped at the bridge for some snaps and a drink as it was over 35C according to a digital sign outside a chemists.

Loire at Imphy










Sancerre









Over the bridge in Gien to the municipal campsite. Taken from outside my tent.

[ChubbyThumper]

After a very expensive iced tea ( tay glassay) in the bar and a meal in the tent I took a wander along the dried out part of the riverbed. It must be impressive when the river is in full flow





Sun going down. A nice time for a walkabout

Gien bridge





Everybody loves donkeys, don't they?



Perhaps not the smartest place for a horse to hang out in France








Bed time. Its only about 10pm but I start early and theres no TV in my tent.

[ChubbyThumper]

Next morning I hadn't realised the campsite barriers were down until 8am. I was sitting there on my bike ready to boogie at 7am! Luckily a resident from one of the mobile homes was leaving for work and had a pass to lift the barrier. A lucky start which soon turned too a 200 mile slog in the rain up to Bayeux. The highlight of this was an extremely soggy MacDonalds "Royale wit cheese" ( I had to try one after listening to the soundtrack from Pulp fiction so many times ) washed down with a large hot coffee and 15 minutes trying to dry my gloves in the toilet hand dryer.

First thing I saw in Bayeux campsite was this fantastic desert machine. It had stopped raining by now so out came the Canon.



A chat with some soaked french girl cyclists and a short walk to town to check out the historic area.

Bayeux cathedral













Down stairs to the crypt



I reckon this is the bottom half of a tomb. There were some others there with the lids on. Cold damp and musty, excellent!

[Pumpy]

Absolutely stunning pictures, Terry, great job!

And your story is not bad either...

I really enjoyed your report, thank you for taking the time to write it all up.

God, it must be six years since I've been to the Stella - have to go again, especially as we didn't make it to the top due to snow blocking the track and poor tyre choice...

Thanks for bringing back fond memories.

Ela x

[ChubbyThumper]

Back upstairs to the main body of the church. I was doing an anti-clockwise lap after coming in through the main door.



Bendy walls are down to my lens more than the architecture



I don't understand a lot of this







Back out to the world, this is an hotel courtyard, residents only. Yeah right, in quick out even quicker.



cathedral area



I reckon that protruding construction may have been an old time toilet over the river

[ChubbyThumper]

Originally Posted by Pumpy

Absolutely stunning pictures, Terry, great job!

And your story is not bad either...

I really enjoyed your report, thank you for taking the time to write it all up.

God, it must be six years since I've been to the Stella - have to go again, especially as we didn't make it to the top due to snow blocking the track and poor tyre choice...

Thanks for bringing back fond memories.

Ela x

Great to hear from you Ela, I think global warming has left its mark and getting to Lago Sommeiller has become less difficult. Tyres didn't seem to play a large part this year but ground clearance and a good bashplate play a role. I was warned to watch out for assholes not potholes but really everyone I met had a smile on their face even the guys with breakdowns. A great event and what a base to explore further!

T

[jtb]

Originally Posted by Tigrou

Hi,

At the top of the "aiguille du midi" the building is the highest telecommunication center in France.

Thanks Tiger! Would make for an interesting view out the window each day...

[Nomad&Wendy]

Excellent report, fantastic pictures Terry - makes me want to drop everything and follow that route myself.

[timolgra1]

Great photos mate, it must be time for me to think about a return to the Alps soon.

[newsh]

Really enjoyed this report Terry :)

Last time I went round the three passes was age 11 with my Dad, Mum and Sis in a 1300 Ford Cortina on a camping trip to Lucern. I definitely need to do it again now!

[Blackbert]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for sharing again, great trip and pics.
Bokki campsite and the Grimsel hotel: good memories.

Hope to meet you again some day soon.

[ChubbyThumper]

It’s the 13^th July the last day of my trip. I am about 60mls from Cherbourg and the ferry leaves at 6pm. That gives me most of the day to see some of the sites on the Normandy coast. My mate Jockser gave me a lot of waypoints but I’m only able to visit a few of them.


Here’s a nice Chateau on the way to the coast



I wouldn’t mind their woodpile. Our little stove would go a long time on this lot!



First stop Arromanches overlooking Port-en Bessin







The German battery at Longues sur Mer








Forward observation post




Taken out big time



the rear











Down to Port en Bessin for my lunch of tinned mackeraux and a baguette in the sun. Soak it up, last day in France...

[ChubbyThumper]

A sad place but one I wanted to see. There are over 21000 buried here I believe. Its low key compared to the American one but very well done.

[ChubbyThumper]

The best word I can use to describe this place is immaculate. No expense has been spared in creating a memorial to the fallen. Hopefully the pictures can show what I mean










Walking to the Omaha beach side of the cemetery













The saddest of all



67 years and a day later. Rest in peace Floyd



A star of David stands out amongst the symmetry of the crosses









It is so peaceful here, a beautiful location for such a sad reason