It definitely feels like I'm winding down now after the Marmotte ride on Sunday. After yesterday evening's heavy rain, which continued overnight. the cloud was slow to lift this morning. Just as well that I delayed riding. I discovered that Blogger had lost all of the text from the entry about the Marmotte day. I had to rewrite the whole thing! It took a while. On the plus side, I did check out the photos from the photographers en route, and chose one from the Galibier to add to the day's entry.
After another leisurely morning, the weather started to improve. I decided to head out to Deux Alpes for a spot of lunch. I've not had meals at lunchtime since I've been here. It would be a new experience.
After getting the bike ready and heading off up the gorge towards Lac Chambon, I turned right at the first junction, taking the road up via Bons. The road climbs high above the gorge in the forest. The ramps are at 8% and above. Today, I had plenty of power, and spun up the inclines fairly easily. Eventually, the road flattens and becomes a balcony, with spectacular views across the valley.
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| La Romanche, where it broadens at the barrage at Le Clapier |
Looking west, the Romanche river broadens at the EDF barrage at Le Clapier, near Le Velo Jaune. It's possible to see the road to the Col du Lautaret as it starts to wind its way up the gorge.
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| The valley is heavily forrested lower down |
There are hamlets and villages dotted across the hillsides above the river.
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| The balcony road high above the main road to the Col du Lautaret |
From the balcony road, the route of the road to the Col du Lautaret and the Galibier is plain to see as it winds its way up to Lac Chambon.
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| The main road winding up the gorge |
Across the valley are a number of villages that make up the Auris commune. At the top left of the photo is the ski resort of Auris station.
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| Villages of the Auris commune, and the ski station above |
On the far side of the balcony section, the road kicks up again, and finally joins the main road to Deux Alpes just outside Bons. From there its a simple climb via the numbered hairpins to Deux Alpes itself. Again, the gradients are 8% or so, and felt quite manageable.
Once in the Deux Alpes itself, the road flattens out. It's a pretty resort, and still busy at this time of year. A couple of times people stepped out in front of me without looking. Shouts of 'Attention' from me soon got their attention!
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| A nicely restored van of a type I didn't recognise in Deux Alpes. |
I meandered through town until I finally found the Red Frog, where I would have met Martin last week, if the weather hadn't intervened. It's also where I did meet Angela for a dring, back in 2014. Since I had managed to miss dinner last night, I decided to have a full lunch.
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| BLT and Cappucino at the Red Frog. |
It was very good. Later, however, it did confirm why I don't eat a proper lunch while on a full day ride.
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| The Red Frog |
While I was eating, Shawn and Martin turned up. They had come up to check out the end of season sales in the ski shops. They are both looking for equipment for next season. They joined me and we chatted for a while.
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| Architecture in Deux Alpes is typically, er, Alpine |
Eventually it was time to ride down. I took my time, and kept stopping to photograph the views. This will be the last time I'll be up here.
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| Mizoen, the village above Lac Chambon |
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| The Outfall into Lac Chambon below Mizoen was running fast today |
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| The road to the Col du Lautaret as it climbs alongside Lac Chamobon |
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| The lower end of the relief road, now closed. |
A few days ago, I photographed the upper end of the relief road, built a couple of years ago to get local traffic past the collapsed tunnel on the main road to the Lautaret. The lower end of it meets the road to Deux Alpes just above Lac Chambon. Sad to see its demise. We enjoyed riding on it last year.
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| The tunnel above Le Freney and the gorge of the Romanches |
The descent into Le Freney is becoming quite familiar, as is the subsequent climb out and tunnels, before the final drop into Le Clapier.
Another very relaxing day. Just one more now before I have to head home.
Details of today's ride are on
Strava.
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