It all started with a bang

Not the story we wanted to tell but nevertheless it did happen.

Everyone excited after arriving in Thonon les Bains to go riding. Different groups headed out while others were still arriving at the airport.

A txt from Dallas - Where are you ? Jef has crashed. Thoughts of non helmet riding Crown Range dweller rushed through the head. The worst of course - but it was not that bad but bad enough.

A car had stopped un-expectantly in front of Jef and Dallas and both hit the back (Dallas only glancing as he was further back) Jef hit the back of the car. He crashed over the bike to collect the car with his scapular. Which broke a small piece on the bottom edge.

Ambulance / police / hospital all followed and on return from Geneva we went to sit in the hospital. (it so happened that our driver Agnes knew two people in the town - one a doctor at the hospital, so we followed up with a call to him and he duly arrived in sandals and t-shirt after spending a day on Lac Leman)

With his assistance we started getting feedback and soon Jef was back with us - drugged to the eye balls, arm in a sling and not feeling so good about the world.

Not the start we wanted but that was it. Dammmm

Sunday 8th
Gentle riding in scattered groups before the rain, or for some in it. Exploring routes above the lake. French low mountain countryside, riding with paddocks of musical cows.

Monday 9th
The depart.
0820 - pedals clicked in and away. Jean Louis (the doctor) joined us for the ride to Morzine up the valley of the Dranske.  Deep in the gorge where he sun don’t shine - 11 degrees - which is a surprise after riding in 30 + just a day or so before.

A unexpected detour forces a climb up the walls of the valley before descending through sunlight shafts in the trees back to the valley floor. The valley climbs only gently all the way to Morzine so it is really a nice way to warm up.

According to the guide book it was lunch - in fact it is only 10.00 and a chance for those keen to add a bit of extra hill work ie climb to 1800meters / 10 kms above Morzine to the ski station of Avoriaz. Only two keen souls chose this option - Dave Drew and Leslie Logan, so of course I had to accompany them.

A great climb done at easy pace - 1hr 10min takes us to a ‘out of this world’ ski station. Some amazing architecture

But it was cold - so no hanging around. Jackets on and 10kms of flowing descents to follow. Coffee and chips in Morzine , while the main peleton had ascended the Col de Joux Plane on the way to Samoens. 

It is steeper - up to 9 degrees on the sign posts  (but 11 degrees in places)

From our guide book (produced in Qtn)

Col de Joux Plane
Starting from Morzine, the Col de Joux Plane ascent is
‘ . . . a deceptively tough (but not too hard) climb as it starts with a real kick from Morzine town centre. There are a couple of easier sections that give the legs a quick break and the
climb ends with easy last 2km to a small lake. Its not a hair-pin climb so a rhythm is
difficult to achieve."

Col de Joux Plane 10.9km Average Grad 6.5% Vertical 711m

The descent is fantastic again - fast following roads - although very rough in places with slumps, bumps and big cracks.

A great start for the trip

Leigh takes the dummy award - riding around a roundabout the wrong way

Tomorrow the Colombière
Col de la Colombière (1613 m).
Max Gradient 12%. 19.5km Vertical 1120m
and then the
Col des Aravis (1486 m) 10km. Vertical 566m