My God I’m tired, it’s been a very long time since I’ve ridden a bike so far and the late nights and early starts are starting to get into my old bones, my pains have pains and my brain is on auto pilot. But my goal is in sight as I’ve decided to spend the night in Valbonne near Nice where I used to live.
Gorge de Bachelard
Col de la Cayolle
But before I head south I take a little detour onto the D900 out of Barcelonnette and onto the D954 which is a great twisty road well-known by local bikers that rounds Sauze du Lac. At the top of this road before the bridge is a nice little restaurant that is swamped by 100’s of bikers on weekends, and for 45 Euro you can also get a room for the night. After my detour I jump back onto the D902 to the breath-taking Gorge de Bachelard and up over Col de la Cayolle and down towards Valberg where I leave the Route Grande Alps and cut down to Entrevaux to spend a half hour in the motorbike museum which is worth a look if your into the old bikes, 1st timers here will find ancient bikes you never knew existed, it’s only a small museum, but it’s a gem.
Col de la Cayolle 2
Col de la Cayolle 3
C'est Moi
From here I take a little known pass on the D911 that starts just behind Entrevaux which is not for the faint hearted as it has some of the steepest, sharpest hair-pin turns France has to offer, through a vicious looking gorge and a weird religious sanctuary cut into the rock face. Some of these back roads can really surprise you if you have the time to explore or take a chance.
Moto Museum - Entrevaux
This route links up to Route de Napoleon near Castellane and leads me into the Cote d’Azure and near the end of the French leg of my tour. But it’s not over yet, tonight I spoil myself a little and stay in the Hotel des Armories in Valbonne, it’s over priced but I love this village. After a shower, sh$t, shave and a bit of grub I head up to the local, “The Queen’s Leg’s” which is a strange name for an Irish pub, but it is great crack, friendly locals and with the bonus of a stunning looking bar woman. I suspect even the women here are attracted to this lass, so I settle down to a few well-earned beers and wish my wife was here to keep my mind off the bar woman who seems to have a glint in her eye for this silver-haired fool. Word of warning for the Guinness drinks though, its best to steer well clear of the Guinness in France, the French have a knack of butchering the black stuff here… Pouring Guinness into a wet glass!!!!! Jesus!!!! Tomorrow I’ll be tracking down the roads the James Bond film road chases were shot and test them on a motorbike…
Entrevaux
Weird church cut into a gorge
Yet another gorge, how boring...
Next: 2010 Euro Bike Tour. Day 8 – Le Cote d’Azure
Nice pics Den, at least you’re past the worst part and over the cols. Must be nice/weird to be back in Valbonne again? Love that village myself, that little bar is a real oasis. Ring the bell of your old apartment for kicks – see who answers
Weather back here has gone soft again, the pics of the Alps are keeping me going though dude. More, lots more please.
Dave.
I’m not back yet, I’m still in Spain doing a bit of exploring…..