Barcelonnette was our campsite overnight, as the planned stop at Jausiers was unattended when the Bike-Dreams truck pulled in. This added approx 15km to the days riding. A pleasant camp with good showers, however too few. This was the last of the day of climbing the big cols over 2000m. Trudged up the lookout loop road through snow and rubble to take in the magestic view across the Alpes at La Bonnette. Carried the bike to the monument and then walked to the top turret (altitude at over 2800m). Descent from Bonnette to the valley Tinee and on to the Couillole was amazing. However the Gorges Superieures du Cians was more amazing. Sheer red cliffs on either side and a rushing river which follows the road along the floor of the valley. Tunnels that come at you suddently as you weave around the cliffs and spit you out at 60kph as you fly off the mountain - no time to stop for photos!! Campsite at Entrevaux was approx 5km outside town on a river and lake, a very pretty location. Kiosk served chilled beers and WiFi available. Tomorrow a steady roll into Nice with only 1500m of elevation gain - a stage for the sprinters! Garmin Connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188980610
campgrounds Barcelonnette
Glyn, Dave, Alan and Ken at Barcelonnette
view from tent on morning of depart from Barcelonnette
Route de la Bonnette
dramatic cliffs leading to Bonnette
more spectacular valley views
mirror lake near summit of Bonnette
Stuart heads toward Bonnette
fort ruins on Bonnette climb
La Bonnette
Cime de La Bonnette
Bike-Dreams group together at Col de La Bonnette
Harry and I at final big climb La Bonnette - tomorrow Nice!
trudging up Cime de La Bonnette
monument at top of loop road at Bonnette
looking down to monument from Cime de La Bonnette
Cime de La Bonnette
orientation plaque at summit
looking back to the north and Mont Blanc
Alpes panorama from Cime de La Bonnette
Col de la Bonnette profile
Harry at monument
village bolted on cliff face
Harry Cime de la Bonnette
abandoned farmhouses on Bonnette descent
flowers on roadside en route to Col de Couillole
John MacDonnell, Michael Falduto, Jim Grasso coffee at Isola
colourful roadside flower boxes
lunch stop before Col de Couillole
lunchstop flowers
the "train" en route to Col de Couillole
Rubion
Michael D, Mel, John, Ken, me, Michael F and Jim at Couillole
The campsite at Briancon was excellent with a common room (TV and WiFi access) and a laundry with driers that actually worked. A beautiful and breathtaking climb from Briancon through a picturesque valley to Col de l'Izoard, then on to Col de Vars and the slightly lower but still quite lengthy climb over the top in the direction of Cote D'Azur and Nice, our final destination. Not bad gradients here although l'Izoard dishes out some punishment early at 10-11% and then at the end (12%)! Tomorrow we tackle one of the longest and highest climbs to the "top of the Alpes" - La Bonnette (2800m) - and the magestic view of the Alpes from the highest point of our trip
Alpine camping experience (there is no room to swing cats)
view from tent at Briancon campsite
Briancon
ruined and re-furbished farm buildings on way to l'Izoard
Torrent de l'Izoard
Cervieres
La Draye
meadows around village
motor bikers descend on road to Col de l'Izoard
Peter MacKenzie chugs up l'Izoard
Refuge Napoleon near top of Col de l'Izoard
Peter Mackenzie and I at Col de l'Izoard (an epic climb)
on the southern side of l'Izoard (layered for chilly ride down)
l'Izoard profile
Harry at l'Izoard
moonscape near Col de l'Izoard ("Casse Dessert")
Casse Dessert
valley stream en route to Vars
lunch stop Guillestre
valley en route to Col de Vars
a welcome sight for cyclists on the road to Vars
road to Vars
Pip gets re-shod at Col de Vars - Richard is farrier
