There are ski-lifts that go all the way to the top of Pic Blanc at 3300 m, but not in the gap between seasons.
These yellow-jacketed photographers are everywhere here, snapping and handing numbered tickets to amateur riders for later photo purchase.
After Huez, I headed for Lauteret/Galibier just to see the road, as I'd be going the other way tomorrow, and a fine road it is, despite the many stone walls hanging above the dam. The dam is in a bad way; they're having a drought here, agricultural yields are down 15%. It was 27 degrees riding along the valley floor.
But good news awaited. Halfway to Lauteret I saw a welcome sign.
Galibier is 2650 m and the views are said to be pretty good. So I turned around and came back and up to Les Deux Alpes, or 2 Alpes as they call themselves, for lunch at 1700 m. This is the biggest snow-sports area I've seen. Lots of big apartment blocks, and the "village" of modern constructions goes on for about 2 km of a one-way loop road. Saw Billabong, Quicksilver, even a tattoo shop.
Then back via Allemont, below Sardonne, and did a few km along D526, the road I won't be seeing tomorrow.
Back at 4, washed what I'd worn so I'm now OK to the end. It's been good having a break, 3 nights in one place.
Location:Sardonne, France
Two nights minimum I reckon. A week is looking good for our next holiday.
ReplyDelete2014 Stage 14 went along the road that I rode here, over Col de Lauteret, then on to Risoul
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