ALPS!

[Recycler]

Nice & easy - no probs for those of us on dial up.
1800 miles over six days - lots of beer and laughs.
Chamonix:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=644
Climb to the Col de L'Iseran:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=645
On the top:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=646

[modrover]

Come on man... MORE! :wink:

[Recycler]

Smell that thin Alpine air!

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=649

The view on the way down from Col de L'Iseran:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=650

I'm guilty - I always think: 'Don't take a pic, there will be somewhere EVEN BETTER down the road' and carry on.
The best camera is your memories (but you can't show anyone else).

The first and last day on French motorways is a pain. Loads of petrol stops & tolls and it goes on forever. The best welcome was in a Dutch owned campsite near Geneva on the first night (600 miles). The worst night was in the tent in a storm near Lyon coupled with an earwig infestation in the tent - YEUURRCHH!

We spent 2 nights in Chamonix and did the glacier/cablecar thing but nightlife closes early. A litre glass of lager cost 12.50 Euros which is about £5 a pint which is taking the michael.

An afternoon ferry back from Roscoff ended in a night ride home accross Bodmin Moor listening to Pink Floyd on the Autocom - a quality end to the trip.

I think this is the last time I'll do the long slog for scenery - next year will probably be a ferry to Santander, Spain where you're straight into the sexy country.

[Fatjohn]

We spent 2 nights in Chamonix and did the glacier/cablecar thing but nightlife closes early. A litre glass of lager cost 12.50 Euros which is about £5 a pint which is taking the michael.



phuck dat! Thanks for posting the photies though, the pressure really is building for me to point my alp west and wind the throttle*.


*might use a ferry for the wet bit in between though.

[wheeliebin]

I CAN almost smell that thin apline air :D great pics !

How was the bike up there ? gasping and wheezing ?

[gibbo]

I found the twin only struggled noticeably on the very highest passes. Col du Bonnette (the highest "road" pass) will make it a bit short of breath. We were 2-up and fully loaded, see http://www.xrv.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=449

For those of you going to the Stella Alpina, you will think you are riding a 250 at the top of the Col du Somellier. I found the bike would not idle, coughs & splutters, & requires about 1/2 throttle before you get any response out of it. Will see if I can dig out some pics & post them over the weekend.

[modrover]

Wonderful photos! :wink:

How 'bout some native chicks? Maybe with some bewbees showing! :P

[Recycler]

The L'Iseran is about 2,700 metres. The Tranny ran smooth but felt a bit down on power.

But with a straight drop over the kerbstone power doesn't matter.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=651
For the last night we stayed in Chartres, west of Paris. This was a light show on the Cathedral which was gobsmacking. Prior to this was a classical concert as we sat accross the road and had a top meal outside. What a chance find this was - I've no idea of its frequency but it is worth seeing.

On the peage the Tranny held 95 for hours on end. A tank empties in about 150 instead of 200 but other than that good. From memories it was smooth compared to the 600 at this speed.

No pics of native chicks I'm afraid - but there was loads of quality crumpet throughout, not a big bum in sight and bloody sexy accents!