Winding Down

With the rides completed, we decided to have a really easy, relaxed day today, doing a little sightseeing in Briancon's old town. There was quite a lot of rain overnight, and the weather looked grey and threatening at breakfast. But by the time we were ready to go up, the skies were clearing and the sun was making yet another appearance.

In a final strange coincidence, having hardly seen any other Wilier bikes while we've been in the Alpes, odd since Italy is so close here, one of the other guests in the hotel has an Izoard! It's actually an XP. He and a friend are on a whistle-stop tour of the region. They are cycling the Izoard today, then heading for an early bus to Grenoble tomorrow morning on the way back to London.

We drove up to the old town. The approach road is very steep. I wouldn't want to cycle up it. Finding the pay car park full, we started a random tour of the town, but in less than 50 metres had found an apparently free car park with space in it.

We spent the morning walking round the town and its walls and fortifications, and taking a few photos.

A rather nice bridge linking parts of the walls of the town

Ingenuity in using the geography and the local materials is everywhere

The parish church still dominates the old town's skyline

The fortifications, including arrow slits, are a reminder of the importance of this site in guarding the route between Italy and France

The streets are very steep

We had a very pleasant lunch in one of the few flat areas of the town, then headed down to buy supplies for the trip home, which starts tomorrow. Shopping at lunch time is a delight. There was hardly anyone in the supermarket.

So that's about it. There is just the packing up to do this afternoon before loading the car and driving back to Langres for our overnight stop tomorrow.

It's been quite a trip!