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Here goes...
Please do not add up the mileages as I got lost on numerous occasions for reasons stated below.
Prior to my trip I had really given SWAMBO the hump by pouring over this computer for hours on end plotting my route and programming my TomTom using Google Maps. This later becomes ironic. Day 1 � Tuesday 07 Oct 08 SWAMBO is off to Portugal today for a chill out with some of our skiing companion girly friends so I drop her off at Stansted Airport and dash back to dress up for my trip. As luck would have it (not), it had started to rain very heavily so I decided to put my winter commuting suit on instead of my normal riding gear. Bike ready to roll at 7am and its pouring with rain. Bliss. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1337.jpg At about Canterbury on the A2 my TomTom started to flash and do funny things. I was a bit confused as it has been on the bike for most trips since my Tenere was purchased in July. The human interface on the screen would not let me select any options. It had apparently vibrated itself to bits. (Someone else complained of this on this forum and I said that the vibration was not a problem � Doh!) Marvellous I thought. During my planning stage I had not bothered to look at any maps at all and I did not have a clue as to where any of the places I wanted to visit actually were. This is the lesson that I learned. DO NOT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. (do not put absolute faith in technology). A quick dash to the Sea France ferry and a long hard look at some oversized maps tried to figure where to go. A long haul on the French motorways and stops to buy more detailed maps. A stop for some grub at one of the French �Aires� by which time the weather had improved. They do seem to look after the public better than we do in the UK. These are usually very pleasant little lay-by�s with toilets and picnic tables. This is possibly due to the Tolls. I paid 20 Euros for this leg of the trip. Fat boy getting fatter somewhere near Troyes. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1338.jpg After this I pressed on and after a total of about 423miles (680km) it was at about 10pm and very dark so I stopped in a small town called Langres and found the French version of the Bates� Motel. At least I was able to park the bike around the back. Mileage for the day was the most I have ever done in 1 day (so far) http://www.xt660.com/%5BIMG%5Dhttp:/....jpg%5B/IMG%5Dhttp://www.xt660.com/%3Ca%20href=%22...%22%3E%3C/a%3E |
Day 2 � Wednesday 08 Oct 08
It rained overnight and my sheepskin seat was soaking but I did not care as my suit was 100% waterproof. I set off from Bates’ Motel and headed cross country in the general direction of the Alps having recovered some of my map reading skills and remembered some of the places I wanted to go. The weather was improving.
(Note to self – use the motorways rather than cross country in future – it’s a lot quicker even if longer). The first thing I wanted to see was the Aletschgletscher. One of 2 very large glaciers in Switzerland. (8� 4.629'E, 46� 26.586'N if you want to look at Google Earth). To get there I decided to go the long way round via the Gimsel Passhohe, from North to South. This is a pass so remote and high that Google Maps will not let you navigate over it. (its at 8� 20.257'E, 46� 33.764'N) and here are some pics of it. Lake near the start of the trip up. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1342.jpg This made me laugh. It looks like the Swiss are still waiting for the Russians to invade (they are tank traps) http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1345.jpg 47 On the way up. This is why they now dig tunnels - original route off to the right. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1347.jpg 49 Nearly at the top, this wimpy biker turned around here http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1349.jpg |
Havent had time to read the review but the piccies are great :Worship_9TRHEA:
keepem coming:toothy5: |
51 Another dam further up http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1351.jpg 55 I just love the snow http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1352.jpg 54 Believe it or not it was not that cold. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1354.jpg 58 Fat boy doing what he does best http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1358.jpg 59 Going down the other side was fun. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1359.jpg 60 And, Oh look, a glacier. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1360.jpg 62 A taste of what was to come…Weeeeeeee http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1362.jpg 65 Back down in the valley, Damp proofing before plastic ! http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1365.jpg Moved on to a place called Lax, that I remembered because I was in LAX (Los Angeles) airport a couple of weeks ago. From here I knew there was a track up to Kuhboden ( a ski resort) and the a further track to my glacier. 67 The track up to the ski resort. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1367.jpg |
71 My first sight of the small glacier on the way up (looks like down – I know). http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1371.jpg 74 Tunnel to the big glacier. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1374.jpg 76 After the tunnel the track became a foot path that was basically made from rocks (like they do in the Lake District) and this pic was taken at a place that I was able to stop. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1376.jpg 77 Having been stuck on rocks and had to self rescue a couple of times I realised that I had bitten off more that I could chew with the fully laden bike so I decided to turn around. Easier said than done. Before I left I promised SWAMBO that I would be careful (ish) and to be fair, it is difficult to drive back down with a broken wrist or ankle and no-one knew I was up there. I managed to find a bit where I could drive into the snow bank and performed a 15ish point turn. It was very scary. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1377.jpg 79 I then walked to the big glacier and this is it. The camera does not do the enormity of it any justice. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1379.jpg 86 This was in an alcove half way along the tunnel. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1386.jpg 90 On the way back down (yes I know it looks up). Its amazing what you can do in 10 seconds. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...DSCF1390-1.jpg 94 About a � way down I found a good camping spot at about 6000 feet. I like to camp surreptitiously. An old habit from my army days and I think it adds security in people not knowing you are there. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1394.jpg 01 Overnight temperature about 2deg C http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1401.jpg Mileage for the day was about 270 (430km) but this did not include the tracks. |
Day 3 � Thursday 09 Oct 08
02 After a coldish night I awoke to see a bit of a ground frost and this view. This is why I suffer the cold. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...DSCF1402-1.jpg 07 Cold fat old git in a gimp hat. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1407.jpg 13 Warming up a bit now and time to figure where to go next. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1413.jpg 14 Bliss. Fun and views together. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1414.jpg 15 I saw this on the way up and managed to sneak the Ten past it. He he he. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1415.jpg 17 Heading West toward France I saw this and weakened. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1417.jpg 19 And this was almost directly opposite it. I think its an underpowered Unimog derived dirt bike. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1419.jpg 22 The temperature in the valley – Martigny - was very hot (for a fat boy in a winter suit). http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1422.jpg The Swiss have an annoying habit of being happy to take Euros but only give Francs in change. This would not be a problem if I was not on my way to France with a pocket full of useless Franc coins. 28 The transition into France is another Col called Col Forclaz. On the other side was this view toward Chamonix http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1428.jpg 29 And …another glacier. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1429.jpg Prior to Chamonix, in a village called Argentierre I popped into a restaurant only to find they were not serving food so I had a small beer and a coffee. Whilst I was in there I overheard a Scottish guy talking to another guy about trail riding. Needless to say I had to listen. After a short while I could contain myself no longer and asked him where the trails were. He said “all around, why are you looking to do some”. I of course said yes and he, Sam Coward, that is, said I’ll tell you what, come to my house, get rid of the luggage and I’ll take my bike out and show you some trails. So we did, we drove through Chamonix and through to his house in Saint Gervais les Bains. We dumped my bags, he got on his XL250 and off we went. He took me all over the trails of the ski resort nearby. Fantastic fun for about 2 hours. He was impressed with the Tenere’s performance off road despite the road tyres. 34 And here he is with bikes and Mont Blanc as the back drop. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1434.jpg 38 The both of us with me using the tried and tested 10 second dash and pose method of photography. http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1438.jpg When we got back to his house his wife, Teresa, was home and did a very good job of promoting the fat boy cause. Teresa was cooking with mushrooms that she had collected earlier and very sadly I was able to identify the type (a version of the Chanterelle) and we had a long conversation about collecting and eating mushrooms which is a sad dark side to my identity. Sam was gobsmacked that his wife had finally met someone else on the planet with an interest in mushrooms. (When SWAMBO reads this she is really gonna take the mickey out of me.) They were fantastic people and live in an idyllic setting and a laid back way of life that I envied. Sam took me all over his house which is a work in progress of converting a traditional timber framed/clad mountain house into a modern house on the inside without altering the external appearance. Unfortunately I forgot to take any more photos of him, his wife, kids and house. Their house is a bit like the one previously posted but without the dodgy damp proof course. I left there after dark hoping to find somewhere to camp further south but gave up at Albertville and “booked” into a hotel for the night. The work ‘booked’ is odd as in reality it was one of those non receptionist places. You get into the fist part of the foyer and there is a machine that you press buttons etc depending upon requirements and then pay for it with a credit card and it prints a unique number that you use to access the rest of the hotel and your room. Weird. The accommodation was simple but adequate which suited me fine. It was 39E with a basic breakfast. Mileage for the day was 134 (215km) not including the trail riding. |
Thoroughly enjoyed the pics and the report. Not a criticism but one struck me a bit odd:-
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Great Great more more. Wat it your winter riding kit?:weathermanf4[1]:
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