Alps, Southern France, September 2011 − Travels − Captain Tom

Alps, Southern France, September 2011

A remake of our Southern France tours back in 2006 and 2010. This time with Andreas, Thomas and Wolfgang. Martina enjoyed herself at Lake Como.

In order to avoid Switzerland we went into the mountains via Italy with a starting point at Lake Como. It worked quite well but there is a little bit of cumbersome riding (between Tirano and Lake Como and between Milano and Torino).

But then we went into France and - with weather most of the time cooperating - we experienced the highest and most beautiful passes, interesting places to stay and some culinary surprises.

Map 2011_09_alpen

1 Day 1

I go from Berlin to Schwabmünchen to Wolfgang. Weather is brilliant this day.

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2 Day 2

We ride trough Inn valley via Hantenjoch, Piller Höhe to Reschen pass. There we meet Andreas and proceed via Stilfser Joch to Lake Como.

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The day starts with breakfast at Ihle (a local bakery)
Wolfgang at Hantenjoch
View into Inn valley from Piller Höhe
Fog at Stilfser Joch. Despite of weather it is quite busy.
Southern ramp of Stilfser Joch
We take the ferry across lake Como
The hotel has got a prince's room for me.
Good italian pizza in the evening. Tom, Thomas, Martina, Wolfgang
3 Day 3

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The morning at Lake Como is still quite wet and foggy
But we can remove rain suits quite soon
Lunch on our way up to Petit San Bernard
Then it gets wet again until we pass Col du Pré. In between we visit Reservoir du Roselend
Later on we get coffee in a little village. Sun is shining nicely now.
Arrival at the Hotel in Valloire
4 Day 4

Weathe is getting better and we dive deeper into the French Alps

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Col du Telegraph
Col de la Croix le Fer
Alp d'Huez - awesome view into the valley.
Col du Lautaret
Col d'Izoard
Thomas watches the scenery...
... other bikers too
Lunch after the pass. They offer nice french pancakes (Crepes)
Andreas at Agnello...
... which brings us into Italy. The next pass is Sampeyre
and then the highlight of the day. Colle Morti offers most beautiful and impressing views
Last pass of the day is Lombarde. It brings us back from Italy to France.
The evening ends in a little french hotel at the botttom of Col de la Bonette
5 Day 5

The highest point of our trip. We climb over Col de La Bonette, the highest pass of the Alps with paved road and open to cars and motorbikes

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Col de la Bonette
Then we go over Col du Cayolle ...
... and Col des Champs
We get lunch in a little city called Entrevaux
There is an interesting fortress
Last pass of the day is Col d'Allos
6 Day 6

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We start with circling around Lac de Serre-Poncon
Then we ride some french mountains and passes Col du Noyer is one of the interesting ones.
Dinner is a very french one. This includes oysters
7 Day 7

Again gorgeous mountians on our way back to Lake Como. And now we have figured out how to use the video cam.

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Col du Galibier
Andreas, Tom, Thomas and Wolfgang
View from Col du Galibier
A video of climbing up and down Col du Galibier
Later in the day we go back to Italy via Col du Mont Cenis Reservoir at Col du Mont Cenis
Video of climbing up Col du Mont Cenis
Back to Lake Como
8 Day 8

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The day starts with a nice sunrise at Lake Como
We say good bye to the hotel there
On the way to Schwabmünchen we have to go over Gavia Pass
Stilfser Joch this time without fog View from Stilfser Joch towards Umbrail Pass
Tom at Stilfser Joch
Northern ramp of Stilfser Joch
View to glacier
Turn 48 - the last hairpin on the northern ramp
View to Inn valley at Piller Höhe
With this picture postcard view we say goodbye to the mountains
9 Day 9

The usual way back to Berlin

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A historic milestone tells me that it will be just 130 miles to Berlin