This years Epic Summer trip

[barryd]

Quite the day! Both a bit knackered now. The highlight for me was early morning Kayaking. Loaded the kayak on the bike and took off down to the lake around 8:30am before it got too hot. I can't describe how wonderful it was. Hardly anyone about, very calm and the only sounds out on the lake was the wildlife and my paddles. Went a long way down the lake in a couple of hours, much further than I ever have before. Stopped at a few secluded bays for a swim.

This afternoon a rake round Moustiers Saint Marie village (Well Michelle looked around the shops while I sat in a shady bar ) and then afterwards we headed up into the mountains and the south side of the Verdon Gorges. I had forgotten how spectacular they are and the south side is not the best bit! Will do the north side Monday probably. I must have swam five or six times today, at least a mile I reckon. Lovely late lunch up in the mountains, evening swim back at St Croix, pub! Back at the van now for more beer and Cheese.

A perfect day.

A little short video from this morning and more pics

 

[runnach]

Sigh, it was only a few week ago we were there

 

[barryd]

Sigh, it was only a few week ago we were there

Come back yah Basta! Lets get shitfaced!!

 

[runnach]

Come back yah Basta! Lets get shitfaced!!

I would in a nano second, but, OH requires Med stuff to deal with.

 

[barryd]

Another lovely morning. Out on the lake kayaking. Not as early as I would have liked as I slept in. Must have been knackered as I slept a full eight hours from midnight to about 8am. Straight out half asleep.

Back by 11, emptied the grey water over the cliff into the woods. Sorted!

Few more pics. Enjoyed the peace and quiet sneaking up on the wildlife in the water side bushes (or whatever they are). Still can't get over how quiet it is here on a morning.

 

[barryd]

This afternoon a cracking ride of about 40 miles down to Quinson. There is gorge walk there which Michelle had a go at but it was rammed and dangerous so that got abandoned. Whilst I sat in the shade by the water I got chatted up by two stunning Swedish students studying in France. They were amazed that I had come all the way from England on a scooter. Yes I told them the truth in the end.

Fabulous ride away from the crowds through the backroads, forests and rivers and eventually down to Bauden on the opposite side to the lake from St Croix Village where we are staying. So quiet once you get off the beaten track. The Aire has got much busier over the weekend but still not full. Oddly Sunday night seems the busiest.

Few more pics of the lower gorges, some idiot swimming and Bauden.

 

[barryd]

The big one tomorrow. North and South Verdon Gorges and also Trigance. About 90 miles.

 

[Jo001]

The big one tomorrow. North and South Verdon Gorges and also Trigance. About 90 miles.

I'd love to do this, I'll look forward to seeing your photos so I never need to do it myself (as a self confessed scaredy-cat passenger).

 

[runnach]

The big one tomorrow. North and South Verdon Gorges and also Trigance. About 90 miles.

Scooter or Hank la tank, post #13

Grasse & The Napoleon Route from south to north direction.

Any pointers for must see and stop overs? TIA 👍

motorhomer.com

 

[barryd]

Scooter or Hank la tank, post #13

Grasse & The Napoleon Route from south to north direction.

Any pointers for must see and stop overs? TIA 👍

motorhomer.com

Always the scooter of course! Its a long ride but way better done on the bike. Done if a fair few times now.

 

[runnach]

Always the scooter of course! It’s a long ride but way better done on the bike. Done if a fair few times now.

Yes, two wheels is the way to go. I never had an option, had to use the Brick, had to stop longer at times to allow fluids to cool down. My biggest fear was brake fluid boiling up

Pic of the Brick cooling down stop

 

[runnach]

Ps: Trigance aire was a decent stop for the night when we were there. Toilets were being upgraded and not available, another public toilet a short walk into the village at the Maire.

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[barryd]

Ps: Trigance aire was a decent stop for the night when we were there. Toilets were being upgraded and not available, another public toilet a short walk into the village at the Maire.

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We did debate having a couple of nights there. We have stayed before many years ago and used to do the northern route on the bike then the next day the southern route down to the lake in the van. Its a nice village. We are hoping to fit it in today. See how knackered we are by the end of the route des cretes.

 

[Jo001]

Ps: Trigance aire was a decent stop for the night when we were there. Toilets were being upgraded and not available, another public toilet a short walk into the village at the Maire.

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The roads in that image don't look wide enough for that truck!

 

[mark61]

The roads in that image don't look wide enough for that truck!

Driver is probably waiting for the trailer to be loaded. Truck drivers don't muck about, plenty of room for combination there.

 

[runnach]

The roads in that image don't look wide enough for that truck!

Dawdle to get through, have to pull the mirrors in though!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The roads in that image don't look wide enough for that truck!

There is another truck further in.

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[runnach]

We did debate having a couple of nights there. We have stayed before many years ago and used to do the northern route on the bike then the next day the southern route down to the lake in the van. Its a nice village. We are hoping to fit it in today. See how knackered we are by the end of the route des cretes.

We did the same route, North, then South. I hope you both wore parachutes, just in case, 800+ metre drops along much of the route.

I have renamed the route to "Route Des Craps "

 

[barryd]

Well quite the day today. Although we have done the gorges several times over the years today I think was the first time we did the north side, the Route des Cretes then continued all the way to Trigance in the west (Lovely village for lunch) then all the way back down the south side in one go. Its a lot of years since we have been to the Trigance end. I had forgotten how great all of it was. Pretty much from leaving the Aire there is not a dull moment. 92 miles of fantastic roads, views, view points and the odd Vulture!

The north side that includes the circular Route des cretes I always thought was the best bit but its equally as good fun and rewarding coming back along the south side. In one of the photos from the south side I have marked on the route des cretes road high up opposite the road we came down on. Don't do this if you are remotely scared of heights.

The photos and a short video really do not do it justice though. Some of the drops are in excess of 2000ft.

Ended the day by the lake where I made a new friend.

Video and a lot of photos!

And my new Gorkwok friend.

 

[runnach]

YouTube clip where you saw the vultures, did you see the flag pole about a further 300 metre climb up over the boulders? Like one of those Himalayan prayer thingies. I ventured over to the edge, YIKES. Squeaky bum time!

Image with red txt, I recall when up there looking down to the tunnel with windows in it (tunnel with your bike parked up) I thought interesting, can’t wait to drive through that later in the day, wishful thinking, drove through on second day after leaving Trigance.

I also wanted to stop there, as you did, but no room for the brick.