The European Chronicles 2023.14 - Au Revoir France!
Ciao Italia!
Three passes take me out of France and into Italy: Col du Telegraphe, Col de L'Iseran (both again) and Col du Petit-St. Bernard. A beautiful ride, with a few twists and turns of my own making. More on that later... 😂
Heading out
There was a bicycle race on Telegraphe, Gendarmerie escorts, large groups of riders...plus the regular traffic going up and down. A bit of a zoo, but everyone seemed to survive!
Heading to Iseran was a beautiful field of flowers.
Iseran has its own bicycle race going on...and is closed to other vehicles until noon. So instead of a party at the top, there's a party at the base. 😎
Lot's of folks waiting...
Chatting with a very nice couple from Torino out for a day ride...comparing notes about riding in France. They'd been through the gorges last year and loved them, and he's convinced the roads in France are in better shape than those in Italy. We'll see!
Noon comes...and goes...I'm gonna wait a bit for the throng to leave...heading up now...
The pass photographer shots from a few days ago.
Down the pass and into the Valle d'Isere, which has its own helistation. I really, really wanted to park Mia in the bullseye for a photo op, but all the entrances were chained.
Starting the climb to the next pass...the little St. Bernard. And the start of my self-inflicted frolic and detour... 😂
When I get to "the pink road" I realize I've been here before...because of a fuck up. And I've done it again. Or rather, in my defense, I should say TomTom routed me here again and I missed it. TomTom likes to bypass the beginning of the Petit St. Bernard in favor of the itty bitty pink road.
You can see where this photo was taken; the main pass road is the wider yellow line. My pink road intersects with the main pass road, with a steep uphill, blind, 180 hard right onto what is a fairly busy road in both directions. I turn left and flip around because I'd like not to die today. 😂
Had I checked TomTom's routing, I could have easily avoided this problem...and I believe that's exactly what I told myself the last time...duh.
Stunning views though.
Relive 'Italia!'
At the top...
And into Italia
I'm heading to La Thuile, a small ski village in the Aosta Valley. Great hotel that I learned just opened yesterday for the summer season. Hotel Boton d'Or
With, of course, a Bat Cave and a classic Fiat so Mia doesn't get lonely. 😍
La Thuile is a cute little town...rivers run thru it...loudly...fed from the Ruter glacier.
Lawn art. 😂
Mmmmm...tasty.
With an e-bike charging station...they are everywhere! Both the stations and the bikes...
Got it?
Of course!
The next day I do a "valley ride."
Relive 'Pleasant Valley Monday'
Some traffic, but a castle and waterfall to compensate.
Just like your primary school, right?
Ciao!
