Day 7
After the second night in Chambon and the rainy tour the day before, the new day awaited us with quite good weather.
We set out in a southeasterly direction with three more stages to go before we got back to our starting hotel.
After a few passes such as the Paouins:
... we noticed signs of raised bogs. A very special area, like here near the Col de Vestizoux:
In Massiac we crossed the Alagnon valley to get to the Allier valley via the next ridge. On the way up this plateau I noticed a snail (with a house) in a left turn - I just managed to adjust my line to get around it.
We stopped at the top to enjoy the view. Of course, I asked the other two what would have become of the snail and whether it might now be in the eternal hunting grounds. But both stated they also got around it well.
You remember me talking ‘bout examples of architecture on volcanic cones?
Well, through Polignac…
… and Le Puy en Velay
... we reached the rather lonely valley of the Gagne and stopped at the Auberge Des Planchas:
Destination of this leg was Saint-Martin-de-Valamas, which again belongs to the Ardèche department.
Day 8
The penultimate stage, today. In rather warm weather it should go east again over the Rhône and back into the Vercors.
Here we are still west of the Rhône, above Saint-Georges-les-Bains:
And here already east and looking back west across the Rhône with the Massif Central in the background:
Then we zigzagged in the south-western tip of the Vercors, e. g. via the Col de la Croix:
Finally we took the southern entrance to the Vercors via the Col Rousset, which is simply more fun uphill:
It was now the turn of many of the stretches that we had to skip on the first crossing.
Towards afternoon we found this old tunnel that was obviously not used anymore:
Actually, in the Vercors you have reason to stop after every second bend to take pictures. A truly special and extraordinary piece of earth!
Spectacular just before the end of today’s leg the Gorges de la Bourne:
The day's destination was a hotel on the Col de la Croix Perrin pass.
Day 9
The last day of driving had begun. We left the hospitable hotel well run by a young, dedicated team:
… and set course for the Massif de la Chartreuse – this time on a more easterly route.
It was Sunday and the whole of France seemed to be out and about on racing bikes. We hardly made any progress for the first two hours. Only when we came into the valley at Chambery and on the other side into the Massif des Bauges did we have less traffic.
East above Aix-les-Bains is a spectacular vantage point, Mont Revard:
Opposite, west of Lac du Bourget, is the ridge of Mont du Chat, which was already topic on our first leg.
Then a bit back and north over the next ridge, the Semnoz, which is south of Annecy.
From there it was only a good hour to the start/finish hotel.
Upon arrival I noticed some oil on my left leg. The engine had accumulated some dust, especially where seals sweat a bit. Otherwise, it was dry, the Laverda had only taken 0.3 l of oil over 2500km, so that couldn't be it.
We started loading the bikes onto the trailer when I saw the cause. The fork leaked on the left:
Apart from that, we didn't have any failures on the entire tour, everything worked out wonderfully. And that with motorcycles that are 49 or 51 years old.
We freshened up and went to the final holiday dinner - on a beautiful terrace with a view of Mont Blanc in the last light:
Cheers all,
Jo
