Franche Comte makes me :-)

I owe today to Eurosport coverage of Tour de France 2012 cheers Wiggo etc.

Or at least the roads did. Mike wanted to start the ride north cos he wants to play on the autobahn. But I had seen the map and wanted 1 more day on mountain roads. By the time we reached Col du Ballon 1178m the sun was high in the sky and Mike high on adrenalin. What was the echo on the scala something about this is better than the Stelvio. Rode D465 to St Maurice sur Moselle them about turned and back over Col du Ballon 1178m over the summit and a left to Masevaux and another wiggly road. This time it's Col du Hundsruck D14 BIV to Thann.
The plan had been to head back to the campsite from here but there looked to be another road shouting for us to discover. D13div to Col Amic a low 825m. Left or Right oh go on then Left to Grand Ballon at 1424m.
I would like to say it was because the map ran out that we turned round and headed for Belfort but it was time. The Crest Route will wait for another year. We ended the Route des Cretes D431 in Cernay. What a day, nice fast blast along the N83 to Belfort and into Lidl for tea celebrating with a starter and bottle of wine.
Tomorrow we start the ride home thru Germany and The Ring,well when in the area it would seem rude not to.

Chasing Cols

Monday dawned hot with a wee topping of cloud on the hills. By the te we had coffee and studied the maps the cloud was gone.
Col de la Forclaz 1150m a nice easy start to the day.
Col de l'Appertaz 1581m too many hairpins to count and most on single track. The road alternated between wide open vistas to shaded tree lined road. Eagles soar above the mountain tops I am sure we saw one circling the peak. Espresso with a Mont Blanc view.
Col des Aravis 1486m great road thru a gorge then the wide open spaces and soaring mountains. We are now behind the mountains of the previous pass.
Col de la Colombiere 1613m great run up and down a Tour de France col.
Col de la Croix-Fry 1467m nearly done with cols for the day sneaked this one onto the route much more interesting than the valley route alternative
Col du Marais 843m some tight curves on the descent to Faverges.
That's it for mountain passes today 126 miles of fun & frolics on the cols and not very busy in contrast the lake side route back to Annecy was nose to tail traffic with and what appeared to be a cycle race competing for space with the general traffic.

Annecy

Arrived in a thunderstorm tipi pitched in record time, 2.5 mins and we were sat inside dripping of the floor.
Sunday dawned and not only dry but sunny by the time mike woke up. A day in Annecy drinking cidre and eating was on the cards but after the local map was purchased and the road up past the campsite showed some promising curves we cut back on the cider.
As we climbed to Col de Leschaux it was getting chilly and we still had to climb higher to Cret de Chatillon 1699m it was perishing but the views were stunning. Nice road, great curves and a couple hairpins and brake fade on the Fazer really need to take bravery pills. Looking for more good roads for tomorrow. Main problem too many to choose from

Mile munching Friday

Today we will mostly be in tour France peage mode speed limit in the dry 130 km per hour so a wee bit above that should be ok. Alps Annecy here we come. Just past Tours.

Mont St Michael

Even Mike said it was worth the trek to the top. What a maze of passages. I was most impressed with the wheel that pulled the sled up the outside bringing supplies to the Abbey. Took a while to click there was no water, and too big for hamsters, people walked around it to turn it and bring the goodies up. The sled was about 6' in length and very solid

Normandy coast France

Headed to Honfleur on the Normandy coast on Tuesday. The town centre is beautiful, lots of restaurants around the old enclosed harbour, and to our delight all offering moules frittes, and cheapish house wine. It was decided over dinner we will be staying here for 2 nights.
Mike conquered his fear of bridges, or was it because the long way round would have taken another hour, he crossed the Normandy bridge. Even me who adores bridges will admit to some trepidation when faced with the hill ascending to the middle of the bridge. When we got to the top of the first one that was scary enough, we were then faced with the actual bridge and it looked even worse than the first.
We might head back to the bridge to get some photos and have a quick blast over it, don't they say familiarisation de-sensitises you and fears can be overcome.

On board

Oh how I hate the ramp on the ferry but we are on, bikes tied down cabin located. Now will it be steak or buffet.

Holiday today

7 hours 48 mins to work then I can go on holiday
Passport located panniers packed