Sunday 30 June 2024

TdF Grand Depart is in Italy this year so... topical post ride refreshments while watching today's stage. Cheers! grin

Sunday 30 June 2024

Sunday 2 gorges ride... but I've a feeling we're not in Sydney anymore! wink Lot valley to Gorge du Tarn & back.

Saturday 29 June 2024

Today was mostly spent: driving in the rain. If you're stuck indoors, might as well wake up somewhere new tomorrow smile

Saturday 29 June 2024

Lunch stop on the pretty main street of Morestel. Random cafe we chose had interesting mains & amazing desserts. Nom!

Friday 28 June 2024

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne cathedral & cloisters. Very interesting & cool (literally!) break from the hot summer sun.

Friday 28 June 2024

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne town square, cathedral, tourist office & Mairie (town hall). V. pretty with all the flowers.

Friday 28 June 2024

Great lunch at L'Indochine (Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne). Bit warm for fried dessert but glad we had them - super nom! tongue

Friday 28 June 2024

Great ride up Lacets de Montvernier & Col du Chaussy, but no views from either. Doh! Few nice shots later on though.

Thursday 27 June 2024

When you walk into a campsite's reception & see this... you know there's gonna be some good riding in the area! grin

Thursday 27 June 2024

Telegraphe & Galibier. Huge snow wall at the summit. Rest much prettier than I imagined. Descent ain't bad either! wink

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Last Italian pizza, pasta & tiramisu for this trip (& a nice local beer). Had to suffice as gelateria closed. Doh! wink

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Views from the road today: Driving down to La Thuile, over Col du Petit Saint-Bernard & through La Rosière.

Tuesday 25 June 2024

For some reason I found this vaguely amusing. Maybe delirious after our hike? Should find something to eat, eh? wink

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Part two of our hike today. The impossibly beautiful Lago d'Arpy. Lost for words!

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Easy hike through pine forest carpeted with buttercups to Belvedere d'Arpy, which has an amazing view of Mt Blanc!

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Couple of views up and down the Aosta Valley from Sarre. What a beautiful place!!

Monday 24 June 2024

Today's ride: Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard. 40km climb from Aosta to frozen lake, down Swiss side & back. Spectacular!

Sunday 23 June 2024

Spotted in Settimo Vittone, Italy: Jesus is my Airbag. So that explains Italian drivers?! wink

Saturday 22 June 2024

Lunch at Camping Solcio: bit swish for a campsite restaurant! Very nice pizza (pepperoni FTW!), pasta & seafood. Nom!

Saturday 22 June 2024

Today's ride: Little pootle in the hills above Lake Maggiore. Always beautiful... and even the weather came good! grin

Saturday 22 June 2024

Well this is alright! Camping right by Lake Maggiore. Even a little beach here, but not hot enough to warrant a swim.

Friday 21 June 2024

Benvenuto a Lago Maggiore! Been a great day... if you're a duck! wink Blue skies tomorrow?

Friday 21 June 2024

Random pizza in Vercelli. Nice, but last one was better. Still not 100% satisfied though - more testing required! wink

Friday 21 June 2024

Nice view passing Barolo today. We would have stayed here for couple days if the weather was better. Doh!

Thursday 20 June 2024

HC climb to Prato Nevso on an overcast day... no, in drizzle... no, in torrential rain! At least it was warm-ish wink

Thursday 20 June 2024

Sometimes it's just nice to know you're not the slowest on the mountain... wink

Wednesday 19 June 2024

Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary, Vicoforte. Very ornate inside. Beautiful square with archways opposite. Love it!

Wednesday 19 June 2024

Orange trees as shade? Odd choice! Plenty of ripe fruit already fallen so no wonder locals don't wash their cars wink

Wednesday 19 June 2024

I'm not a coffee person, but... this is Italy where it seems illegal to go out early & not order one at a cafe! wink

Wednesday 19 June 2024

Obligatory bakery craving photo wink ... Italian edition.

Wednesday 19 June 2024

Dawn stroll at Diano Marina. Beach culture in Italy is bit of a shock for us Aussies. I just don't get it! sad

Tuesday 18 June 2024

Dinner & short stroll around Diano Marina. We just stopped here by chance but turns out to be a lovely little town smile

Tuesday 18 June 2024

Bit overdressed for the beach? Nice dusk stroll along the front at Diano Marina (Italian Riviera) all the same smile

Tuesday 18 June 2024

Italian supermarket parking... ciao bella! grin

Tuesday 18 June 2024

Sanger & chips picnic lunch. Does it get any more pommie? wink Overlooking Cap Ferrat? OK, so slightly more exotic! tongue

Tuesday 18 June 2024

Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Col de Vence - no pics as no view from top sad - & the spectacular Gorges du Loup. Awesome ride!

Monday 17 June 2024

Tootle in hills of the French Riviera. Some seriously steep pinches here... 29% max! Few nice views, but a bit busy.

Sunday 16 June 2024

Travelling in France we like to try local delicacies. Like this, erm, Asian restaurant? wink Very nice curry though tongue

Sunday 16 June 2024

Stroll in village of Seillans. Fountains & immaculately presented eateries a theme, but sadly bit early for lunch sad

Saturday 15 June 2024

Nice little square in the village of Collobrieres & Lac de Carces from today's somewhat longer ride.

Friday 14 June 2024

Pretty cool bike path near Sommieres... and a quick look at the village itself on today's short loop.

Thursday 13 June 2024

Made it over this bridge in a 2.12m wide vehicle today. Sometimes French inaccuracy can be a good thing! wink

Thursday 13 June 2024

Another successful random lunch stop. Great combo of dishes: bacon, egg & mushroom soup thing, veal & mousse! Nom! tongue

Thursday 6 June 2024

Lunch stop: French side of Col du Pourtalet. Nibbling baguette, cheese & ham while admiring the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.

Thursday 6 June 2024

Views of the Valle de Tena on the way up to Col du Pourtalet. Just a short drive home today - which is handy smile

Thursday 6 June 2024

Beautiful short hike by Rio Aguas Limpias. Saw a few falls but from noise in gorge below are plenty more out of view.

Wednesday 5 June 2024

We normally avoid campsite restaurants, but the menu del dia here looked good & didn't disappoint. Nom! tongue

Wednesday 5 June 2024

Spectacular spin up & down Valle de Tena (+ side routes). Stopped for, like, a million photos... here's just a few!

Tuesday 4 June 2024

Gotta love camping off-season grin #WhereIsEverybody? wink

Tuesday 4 June 2024

Bienvenido a Espana! Haven't seen fuel so cheap in a long time! Shame snail isn't more thirsty. On the other hand...