Southern France, Alps, August 2020 − Travels − Captain Tom

Southern France, Alps, August 2020

We do the Alps in Southern France again and I ride with Marcellus and Extreme-Tours. We ride the same routes as last year with slight modifications. I finally get the view on top of Colle dei Morti again. And we have some new companions - this time even two riding with a car.

We ride in some groups in chaning compoisition and we meet on the way at particular viewpoints, for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon coffee

1 Tour and participants

The name of the tour is "Alpenglühn" (glowing Alps) and we have spotted some the last evening. The mountains glow red in the light of the evening sun
The participants (f.l.t.r.) Andi, Wolfgang, Marcellus, Marcus, Klaus, Beat, Franz, Dagmar andTom
2 Champéry-Toussuire

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.

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Map 2020_08_30

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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
3 Toussuire-Barcelonnette

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.

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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
4 Loop through Italy

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.

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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
5 Barcelonnette-Gresse-en-Vercors

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.

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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
6 Gresse-en-Vercors-Aix-les-Bains

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.

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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
7 Aix-les-Bains-Champery

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.

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Map 2020_09_04

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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
8 Riding back home

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.

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Map 2020_09_05

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9 Summary

Map 2020_08_alpen