View towards the mountains from the hotel room
20th April
After drying out, we awoke to good weather, and an awesome view over the alps near the border, so were keen to get going. Cool riding, but good roads through to the border, and back into France. The roads made excellent riding, winding through hills in the countryside, and small villages. Riding slow through the towns, my cooling fan was coming on way too much, so I let it cool right down, then took off the radiator cap, and the level was way down, even though the expansion bottle level was correct. We were heading for Carcassonne, and a room for the night, so would suss it out there. After topping it up with some more coolant, and testing it, all was well. Check Lyn's bike, all good there, so left the remaining coolant behind for the next bloke. I finally managed to get my toolbox fitted too.
After drying out, we awoke to good weather, and an awesome view over the alps near the border, so were keen to get going. Cool riding, but good roads through to the border, and back into France. The roads made excellent riding, winding through hills in the countryside, and small villages. Riding slow through the towns, my cooling fan was coming on way too much, so I let it cool right down, then took off the radiator cap, and the level was way down, even though the expansion bottle level was correct. We were heading for Carcassonne, and a room for the night, so would suss it out there. After topping it up with some more coolant, and testing it, all was well. Check Lyn's bike, all good there, so left the remaining coolant behind for the next bloke. I finally managed to get my toolbox fitted too.
The bikes under the Milau Viaduct
21st
Heading along all the backroads we could find towards Millau, we got to the viaduct, which I really wanted to see, and it is impressive, being higher than the Eifel Tower, and almost 2.5 kilometres long. Coming up a long hill in heavy traffic, Lyn's bike started pouring coolant out, so we pulled over, but I couldn't see anything wrong. Turns out I hadn't fitted the cap properly when I checked it yesterday!!! The weather was good, (but still cool), so we decided to camp near the river on the road going
Heading along all the backroads we could find towards Millau, we got to the viaduct, which I really wanted to see, and it is impressive, being higher than the Eifel Tower, and almost 2.5 kilometres long. Coming up a long hill in heavy traffic, Lyn's bike started pouring coolant out, so we pulled over, but I couldn't see anything wrong. Turns out I hadn't fitted the cap properly when I checked it yesterday!!! The weather was good, (but still cool), so we decided to camp near the river on the road going
The road through the Gorges
through the gorges. The campgrounds were reasonably priced, so we pitched the tent for the night. There was a camper van there with a Moto Guzzi on a bike trailer on behind, and it belonged to Horst and Melanie, so we got chatting to them. They kindly invited us over for dinner with them, and it turned out to be a great night. Thanks for your hospitality guys! Even though sleep was wine induced, it got really bloody cold, so we didn't sleep all that well. My pannier bracket had broken again where the guy in Morocco had brazed it, so I needed to get that sorted out the next day.
The road up out of the gorges.
22nd
We had a late start, trying to let a very cold wet tent dry out, and it was freezing riding in the morning until the sun finally burnt through the clouds. Terrific road up through a zillion hairpins to get out of the gorge, with views to match. We continued on along good roads to Ales, where we book into an Ibis budget hotel to get a good nights sleep, and give me some time to get my rack fixed. I found a bike shop, (the Kawasaki dealer) where the service manager was very helpful, along with a rider from Belgium, named Jan. I followed him to a company that does all their welding and fabrication, and left the bits with them for the night to pick up next day. Thanks Jan, I appreciate your help. Bread, cheese, and wine from the supermarket for dinner that night.
We had a late start, trying to let a very cold wet tent dry out, and it was freezing riding in the morning until the sun finally burnt through the clouds. Terrific road up through a zillion hairpins to get out of the gorge, with views to match. We continued on along good roads to Ales, where we book into an Ibis budget hotel to get a good nights sleep, and give me some time to get my rack fixed. I found a bike shop, (the Kawasaki dealer) where the service manager was very helpful, along with a rider from Belgium, named Jan. I followed him to a company that does all their welding and fabrication, and left the bits with them for the night to pick up next day. Thanks Jan, I appreciate your help. Bread, cheese, and wine from the supermarket for dinner that night.
Amphitheatre at Nimes
23rd
I picked up the repaired pannier bracket, all good, and tried a few of the bike shops for a heated vest, but they all said it didn't get cold enough to stock them. Yeah, right, they should have been riding through the gorges the day before! We continued on to Nimes, had a look at the amphitheatre there, and had a top lunch at a small cafe, plate de jour, eight euro, bargain. From their along good minor roads to Vitrolles, where we scored a room for the night at a small hotel.
I picked up the repaired pannier bracket, all good, and tried a few of the bike shops for a heated vest, but they all said it didn't get cold enough to stock them. Yeah, right, they should have been riding through the gorges the day before! We continued on to Nimes, had a look at the amphitheatre there, and had a top lunch at a small cafe, plate de jour, eight euro, bargain. From their along good minor roads to Vitrolles, where we scored a room for the night at a small hotel.
Looking out over the coast near Toulon
24th - 25th
With good weather, we headed of for Marseille, then Toulon, and St Tropez. We took the coastal route, but as we were avoiding all the toll roads, it was slow going through all the towns. Stopped for lunch at Sanary-sir-Mer, near a little marina, and ordered a medium steak, and it came out blue, but was delicious. The price of everything is over the top at St Tropez, so we found a little camping area along the coast a bit, and set up the tent for a few days. We wandered down to a little jetty
With good weather, we headed of for Marseille, then Toulon, and St Tropez. We took the coastal route, but as we were avoiding all the toll roads, it was slow going through all the towns. Stopped for lunch at Sanary-sir-Mer, near a little marina, and ordered a medium steak, and it came out blue, but was delicious. The price of everything is over the top at St Tropez, so we found a little camping area along the coast a bit, and set up the tent for a few days. We wandered down to a little jetty
Marina at Sanary-sir-Mer.
and sat and had a wine, the water was crystal clear, beautiful. I put my toe in and it was like ice! The next morning we were woken up by the sound of rain on the tent, bugger! The washing we did the night before was now wetter, there was no drier, and there was no covered area unless you wanted to sit in the toilet. Fortunately, it stopped around lunch time, so we rode into St Tropez for a look around, most of the boats in the marina were bigger than a small town. Picked up some groceries for tea, and headed home the long way.
Lyn on the waterfront at Nice
26th-27th
The next morning it is only misting rain slightly, so we pack up and head for Cannes. A few minutes down the the road I realise I've left my jeans behind, (trying to dry them on the grill behind the fridge), so turn around and get them. Ride a really good road through the mountains after Cannes, hardly any traffic. We ride about 50 kms with the fuel lights on, but it's just too dear here. Finally fill up near Nice, where we find a budget hotel where we can charge the computers and cameras, and it had
The next morning it is only misting rain slightly, so we pack up and head for Cannes. A few minutes down the the road I realise I've left my jeans behind, (trying to dry them on the grill behind the fridge), so turn around and get them. Ride a really good road through the mountains after Cannes, hardly any traffic. We ride about 50 kms with the fuel lights on, but it's just too dear here. Finally fill up near Nice, where we find a budget hotel where we can charge the computers and cameras, and it had
Boats at the marina in Nice
parking for the bikes, (for an extra charge, of course). Well worth it, I wouldn't leave them on the streets here.
A short walk to the famous Cote de zour, not really impressive, no sand, beaches are rocks, freezing cold, grey and cloudy, with a 35 knot wind blowing. An early night, and we woke up to the sound of thunder, and rain beating on the windows. The decision is made to stay another day, and it cleared a bit by mid afternoon. We went for a walk to look at some insanely expensive boats in the marina, and had overpriced chinese for tea.
Back to the room with some ice cream and a bottle of red for desert! Tomorrow we head into Italy.
A short walk to the famous Cote de zour, not really impressive, no sand, beaches are rocks, freezing cold, grey and cloudy, with a 35 knot wind blowing. An early night, and we woke up to the sound of thunder, and rain beating on the windows. The decision is made to stay another day, and it cleared a bit by mid afternoon. We went for a walk to look at some insanely expensive boats in the marina, and had overpriced chinese for tea.
Back to the room with some ice cream and a bottle of red for desert! Tomorrow we head into Italy.
