Live like a bee in clover

[Jo]

We wanted to try something new and so I put together a 9-day tour of Jura, Vercors, Massif Centrale and Auvergne.
Here’s a little report of it.



1st day

The three of us started in Crozet (in France near Geneva). Bernd's blue R100 special was indisposed (something with charging), so he took his 1972 R75/5, which he has had since 1978. Michael rode the latest bike, a 2008 Triumph T100.



The first leg should go from the Jura over the Massif du Chartreuse to the Vercors.



The route led along the Lac du Bourget up to the ridge of Mont du Chat:

Further south we chose to enter the Vercors via the Tunnel des Ecouges. Behind Bernd you can still see the old route along the mountain flank, which is no longer passable today:

Next to the Laverda you can see a steel cable. This is where you should orientate yourself if the light fails. Probably intended more for hikers:

Shortly before the day's destination, we passed Gorges du Nan and this one near Presles:

tbc,
Jo

 

[Andy]

Fantastic Jo, I’m going to enjoy this, vicarious living at its best

 

[Beucars]

We wanted to try something new and so I put together a 9-day tour of Jura, Vercors, Massif Centrale and Auvergne.
Here’s a little report of it.



1st day

The three of us started in Crozet (in France near Geneva). Bernd's blue R100 special was indisposed (something with charging), so he took his 1972 R75/5, which he has had since 1978. Michael rode the latest bike, a 2008 Triumph T100.



The first stage should go from the Jura over the Massif du Chartreuse to the Vercors.



The route led along the Lac du Bourget up to the ridge of Mont du Chat:

Further south we chose to enter the Vercors via the Tunnel des Ecouges. Behind Bernd you can still see the old route along the mountain flank, which is no longer passable today:

Next to the Laverda you can see a steel cable. This is where you should orientate yourself if the light fails. Probably intended more for hikers:

Shortly before the day's destination, we passed Gorges du Nan and this one near Presles:

tbc,
Jo

Well next time you are around Geneva give me a shout..

 

[Legs]

Be sure to visit St Cergue.

 

[Jo]

Not long until you are in Gods country Jo. Pop along to the Spanish border and enjoy the Pyrenees.

Be sure to visit St Cergue.

@chrisk & Terry:
Unfortunately I have to disappoint you, neither the Pyrenees nor Switzerland will be on this trip.

It was nice anyway!

 

[Jo]

Well next time you are around Geneva give me a shout..

Will do Jeroen!

 

[ozijotati]

Fantastic Jo, can’t wait for the next instalment . Wish I was there riding with you . Looking forward to catching up with you sometime in the future
Tom

 

[Jo]

Thanks Tom!

I remember the Vercors national park, we spent a fortnight caving and canyoning there. We used Villard-de-Lans as our base. The area is just stunning and some of the hairy roads with sheer drops must be brilliant on a Laverda.

Thanks Graham.
We traversed the Vercors two times, on our way to and again on the way back. To the activities you mentioned yon can add paragliding. Indeed, a very stunning area.

 

[Jo]

We let the evening of the first day of driving end with a nice meal. I learned that the entrecôte must be “à point” if it’s to be good for me ...



2. day

It was drizzling lightly as we headed towards the Cirque de Combe Laval. But since it seemed brighter in the south (where we wanted to go), we decided not to get into our rain gear.

Coming from the north, it goes from 250 to about 1000m high on one of the most breathtaking sections that you can drive on with vehicles. If you look over the parapet on this street, you immediately realize the difference in altitude of 750 m.

In the further course it hailed passes like Col de la Machine (somehow fits the old iron), Portette, Bataille and Baccus. We reached the valley of the Drôme and because of the heat we shortened a little and after further passes like Gourdon, Col de la Sausse:

… and Col de la Croix Rouge:

... we took a break at Chez Alice's in the wine village of Vinsobres.



She said she was about to close and had nothing left, but then she put together a very tasty snack plate:

Turns out she's Canadian and we struck up a conversation. Finally, she said we should decide for ourselves what the break with her is worth to us. Of course, we didn't let ourselves be fooled...

With Vinsobres we had already turned west, and the first lavender fields appeared. Not as impressive as further south, but still:

We crossed the Rhône and drove in the direction of Ardèche, where our next stage hotel was located.

tbc’d

 

[pf1]

I had a house in the Ardeche, spent many a happy hour hammering my Ducati Monster along the roads near Les Vans.

 

[Jo]

I had a house in the Ardeche, spent many a happy hour hammering my Ducati Monster along the roads near Les Vans.

We went through Les Vans when we headed further west to Villefort and the Mont Lozere area.
No doubt about your hammering ...

 

[pf1]

The road from Lablachere to Les Vans must have been made just for motorcycles, the whole thing flows so well and the bend radii and road cambers are perfect. Les Vans to Villefort is great too.

 

[Graham]

Thanks Tom!



Thanks Graham.
We traversed the Vercors two times, on our way to and again on the way back. To the activities you mentioned yon can add paragliding. Indeed, a very stunning area.

Hi Jo,
Hmm, I draw the line with Paragliding but I remember the Grotte de Gournier and the best gorge canyoning I have ever done. It was 900 miles to Villard de Lans from home. I think you have stirred me to revisit the area but I don't think I have the stamina for caving and canyoning any longer . Cheers Graham

 

[Jo]

Hi Graham,
there are sure many activities I'd draw my line too.

Sorry to hear, 'bout you'r stating decreasing stamina. Hope you can do and enjoy many of the activies you like for long!




On the 3rd day we started from Vallon Pont d'Arc towards the Massif Central:

The first intermediate destination should be a village near Villefort, where we'd spent a few days more than 35 years ago at the turn of the year 87/88 together with a group of young French people in an actually deserted village:

Unfortunately, the access was not possible due to construction work and the associated road closures. We'd to give up after some searching because our further daily planning was delayed. A pity.


There was a very fast stretch to Le Bleymard, where we turned south into the Mont Lozère area, a very barren and strangely touching area, such as e.g. in the area around the Col de Finiels:

Then we turned west again into the valley of the Tarn, there we liked a very small road that led spectacularly down to the village of Montbrun:

A little further west is a gem, the little village of Castelbouc:

At St Enimie we left the Tarn and headed back north towards the Lot, which we met at Mende:

The destination of the 3rd leg was in St Saint Geniez d'Olt et d'Aubrac.



tbc'd,

 

[andre g]

We also spent some days in Villefort in April and went to the bridge of Millau, nice area for biking

 

[Haggis]

Thanks again Jo. This is a wonderful read to send away those Monday morning working-day blues.

 

[chrisk]

The road from Lablachere to Les Vans must have been made just for motorcycles, the whole thing flows so well

Good god, I thought I was reading an early 80s report on a Vans and Hines exhaust, for a minute.

 

[pf1]

Good god, I thought I was reading an early 80s report on a Vans and Hines exhaust, for a minute.

You need a job Chris ha ha!

 

[Paul Marx]

We did part of that route last summer, coming off down the plateau to Montbrun.
Montbrun itself is too touristiky.
The roads we ride are totally unsuitable for a Laverda triple.

The photo is on the plateau before riding down.


Paul

 

[Jo]

Hello Paul,
you can definitely drive a triple on routes that shouldn't actually be suitable for it.

I once heard that according to the laws of physics, a bumblebee can't actually fly. But thankfully she doesn't know about it...


Salut,
Jo