The highest paved road in Europe - at least that's what the signs say

So here we go.  Out of  Barcelonnette and a 10kms warm up to the base of the climb. Just 23kms more to climb but the grades are nice. Never above 6% or so.  It's still a couple hours of climbing but we get out into the high wild country and the open tussock lands remind us of high country at home.

We pass a girl riding a little wheel bike in open sanders skimpy t shirt, basket on the front and little else. What the hell is she doing way up here and we wonder later where she was going and what the hell she was doing?

Anyway the top is here and a soft couple kms brings us to the col - cutting through a ridge top
Col de Bonnette

The border of Italy is only a stones throw away and we have passed gun emplacements, garrisons and as we descend through another empty garrison town long abandoned. The road snakes so far down that I can't even see the end, but the curves we do see a 1000meters down are a simple delight to ride. Open grasslands with great vision and I use the whole road for each hairpin ( with a smile on the dial)

We stop after the upper valley to regroup but we are no where like down (it is more than 30kms of descending ) and we release the brakes and roll quickly with the speedo showing 50 kms for a long while. The road rough and bouncy in places and other places baby bottom smooth

Lunch well deserved (Swiss boys there again) and more Down until finally the turn to climb to Beuil. Small narrow backcountry road climbing high on the sidewalls of a gorge.   Two more hours of climbing and even if the scenery is spectacular John is still forced to his pocket for a gell at the 3 km to go point

Col de Couillole
Col de Couillole is well received after a long day in the saddle (6hrs 20 or so) From there it is a 4 kms roll to Beuil and the best meal on the trip (the hotel well it used to have Michelin 2  stars)

But first the small grocery shop for immediate food - a peach some grapes and a OJ

On arrival at the hotel John"s eyes lit up when the owner welcomes us in high heels and hot pants. I hadn't warned him

In the morning some bike tuning (not on my Trek of course) and a long visit to the historic town before we depart.

Back over L"Col de Couillole and down 1000 meters to the valley turn right and roll for another 20 clicks with barely a peddle turned.

A sharp left, layers off and we start climbing over the first major col of the day, Col Saint Martin 20kms and 1050 vertical. The gap in the hills can be seen a long way off and it gives a target to aim for
Coffee and tart on top (well 2 Expresso's for me) and a coke for john

Soon we are away again as the phone indicates some rain and the clouds look a little threatening but it comes to nought

Col Turini
More valley descending before we begin the climb if the world rally famous col Turini
A uncountable series of zig zags lead out of the lower valley through La Bollene-Vesbie into the upper valley with another series of fabulous switchbacks which lead to the top

Smoke fills the valley - ruling over from the other side and we read later some 60 hectares and a small village have burned

Hotel Les Chamois is the total opposite of the hotel in Beuil but the choice is limited on top of the col. Three small hotels and one is closed.

We shower and grab a sandwich in the other hotel while looking a world rally memorabilia
Tommorrow to Nice.


Tommorrow already
It's  a easy 50km roll down not without the very best set of corners newly paved that I have found anywhere. We arrive in Nice by midday and check in to the hotel before taking in the sights of the beach and old quarter where we are going for dinner now

Pics later

Briancon to Barcelonnette

Another full day of climbing and descending
The back of d'Izord is the spectacular Casse Deserte

We are starting to see the same folks time and again. A boy on a mtn bike asks after our friend (he had passed thru the crash site)  he has panniers and is taking a few more days to travel to Nice
Two boys from Switzerland traveling as we are light (our backpacks weigh less than 4 kgs) but we have everything we need

The list includes jandels. Light weight trousers which convert to shorts, underwear a short sleeve and long sleeve Merino top, Torpedo 7 vest, super light weight jacket, specially designed Route des Grande Alpes Jersey, cycling shorts, arm warmers toothbrush phone and charger Garmin charging cord and that's about it. In a small camelback style backpack
A few bars stuffed in pockets coffee and tart or similar for morning tea lunch etc

But back to the story. A spectacular balcony road through a gorge leads to re lunch break in Gulliestre  the Swiss boys are there as well

Col de Vars after a half pizza lunch. Just slowly at first so pizza stays where it's meant to  1108 meters later and a couple ski towns later and we are at the top ready for the decent to Bacelonnette

Twisting turns from upper valley leads to a t intersection and the lower valley ride home ( just 30kms or so) but guess which way the wind blows. Yes against us so head down time trial style and we take turns punching into it as we descend at 2 and 3 %. Would be great 45km hr going but we are reduced to 25 and sometimes 39kms

Still our town arrives eventually and after a slight hiccup with the hotel having us in the nigh before we are showered changed and ready for dinner

The signs have all the info