The rain falls in sheets. While the group wants to wait for some weather enhancement I decide to go throught the rain to the next destination. The forecast reports snow on Grand St.-Bernard and we adjust the route accordingly. But it drops Colle San Carlo, Petit St.-Bernard and the brilliant passes Cormet du Roselend and Col du Pré. And we will miss Italian coffee and lunch on top of Col du Pré. Maybe again next year.

It rains in streams and I look for a shelter for loading.

Grand Saint-Bernard is closed

The group leaves later and takes a coffee break

It is very cold on the Col de la Madeleine

When the group reaches the Col de la Madeleine, at least the fog is gone

Magnificent valley view on the Col de Chaussy

Montvernier - the sun peeks through the clouds for a moment

Montvernier

Montvernier

Montvernier

Arrival at the hotel

The sun comes through again

Good dinner in Toussuire

It is still humid in the morning and we need to bump through the clouds on the way to the Col de la Croix de Fer. Later it becomes really sunny. Highlights of the day are the big passes Col d'Izoard, Col de la Lombarde and Col de la Bonette.

Hotel in the morning

We are at cloud base

A motorcyclist lives here

Breakfast

Col de la Croix de Fer

The iron cross

Surrounded by sheep

Beat, Klaus and Marcellus stop by at Col du Glandon

Pas de la Confession - great valley view

The riders of the Tour de France have to master these serpentines on their way to the finish in Alp d'Huez

Col de Sarenne

Col de Sarenne

Col de Sarenne

Col de Sarenne

On the way to Col du Lautaret

Col du Lautaret

Col du Lautaret

Col du Lautaret

Col d'Izoard

We get photographed on the Col d'Izoard. Here: Tom

Franz and Andi

Andi on Col d'Izoard

Col d'Izoard

Col d'Izoard

Franz on Col d'Izoard

Col d'Izoard

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Bonette

Fortifications on Col de la Bonette

Tire change in the evening at SportMoto in Barcelonnette

We stay in Barcelonnette and take different round trips in several groups. I want to see the Colle dei Morti and so we (Andi, Franz, me) drive the round trip to Italy.

Birthday cake in the morning

Col Agnel

VW seems to test electric cars there

Col Agnel

Col Agnel

Colle di Sampeyre

Colle di Sampeyre

The other group passes Entrevaux

Colle dei Morti

Colle dei Morti

Colle dei Morti

Roubion

Again birthday champagne in the evening

Ray sun again. We drive north again and one highlight is the Lac de Serre-Ponçon We reach Col du Festre. Then the Tour de France stops us and we have to find a new route.

Col de Pontis - View onto the Lac de Serre-Ponçon

Island in the lake

Col de Manse in a distance

The lake steams

View to the lake from the other side

Morning coffee below Col du Noyer

Everything is decorated for the Tour de France

Col du Noyer

Col du Noyer

Lunch on Col du Festre

A paraglider touches down

Later we meet Dagmar and have a coffee break in Mens

Bridge inspection in Gorges des Gâts

In the evening fine French food waits for us

Menu

Soup

Salad

Main course

Cheese

We proceed through the Vercors. The weather remains sunny. The passes are not so high anymore but still very nice to ride. Highlight in the evening is the view from Mont du Chat.

Marcellus photographs the huge rock Mont Aiguille

Col de Rousset

Tom, Franz and Andi on Col de Rousset

Col de Rousset

Col Gaudissart (Cirque de Combe Laval)

Col Gaudissart

We take the road at Col Gaudissart

Before Gorges du Nan - overtaking not possible

Chestnut farm in the Isère valley

Chestnut farm

Old Isère bridge

An old Renault R5 Turbo 2 ahead

A Renault Alpine ajead

Great view on the Col de la Clusaz près Entremont-le-Vieux

Coffee break at Col de la Clusaz près Entremont-le-Vieux

Mont Blanc in a distance

View from Mont du Chat to Aix-les-Bains

Mont Blanc in a distance

Mont du Chat

Mont du Chat

Mont du Chat

It goes back to Champéry. But before that, Le Revard, Col du Grand Colombier and Col de la Croisette are waiting for us. Later the rally Mont Blanc Morzine will get in our way. Three times we have to change the route and we have to take a big detour to get back to Champéry.

Le Revard - view to Aix-les-Bains

Mont du Chat on the other side of the lake

Le Revard

I am being observed

The group at Le Revard

I need to take a little flight

Le Revard

We reach the Col du Grand Colombier - intermediate destination of the Tour de France.

The street is painted accordingly

Ici, c'est l'Ain! - Here I am (department) Ain! - is written everywhere on the street

View on Col du Grand Colombier

Col du Grand Colombier

Pont de la Caille

Lunch on Col de la Croisette

Tom moves on

Andi moves on

View to Lac Leman

The group at the viewpoint

Lac Leman in a distance

Rallye Mont Blanc Morzine blocks our way

Road closed for the rallye

I leave early in the morning around 6 o'clock and drive all the way back to Berlin in one piece. That is 735 miles and it is very exhausting. Nevertheless I still drive through the Swabian Alb to Schweinfurt on country roads.