More up, up and up.

Friday 15th June

A fairly relaxed day with a morning drive up the Col du Galibier - 2642m. This is another climb used at times on the tour de France. We headed out early to do this one to try and get back around lunchtime so I could go to the patchwork group. Good thing we did it early - there wasn't too much traffic as we headed up, but as we wandered around the top more and more cars, motorbikes and pushbikes kept arriving. The views were again sensational. Looking at the map we realised we were on the opposite side of the mountain range from where the waterfall is - and not too many k either, it's just there are no roads. But, there are walking tracks for the keen.

Half way up the Col de Galibier.
Our village is just right of centre of the photo.

Breathtaking views from the top in every direction.

And the road back down.....

This group of bikes were at the top when we arrived.

...with a trailer for the dog of the day.

We travelled on to the village of le Grave where there was not a lot happening. Everything seems to be closed out of winter season, and it isn't quite summer season yet. In fact, there is a teleferique at le Grave which opens for the summer TOMORROW! Damn! Well, its something to go back for. Apparently from the top you get views to Mont Blanc and a chance to walk on glaciers and around crevasses.

 

My first randonneuring boots - so cute.

The telepherique at le Grave - next time.

Another way to view the mountains. 

We got back to Briancon for lunch and then I spent a couple of hours at the patchwork group. Two ladies spoke a little English but it was hard work to make conversation. They all seemed to be working on a sampler quilt - making cardboard templates and cutting with scissors. I got the impression a lot of them were just learning.  I noticed they were taking names on a list for a meal - there were 19 going plus 1 chien (dog).

Moving on day tomorrow so easy pizza for dinner. We had  great week here and will be sorry to go.

Saturday 16th June

These signs are at either end of the village.
It is a 10kph crawl through the village
as you poke your nose around blind and tight corners.

Next Saturday there is a cycling event climbing the 3 highest passes
- we're not sure how it works
but can't imagine them being able to climb all 3 in a day.

These bikes are scattered through the town of Briancon
and other towns in the alps that see the passing of the tour de France.

On into Italy today. We decided not to just go down the motorway but instead go via the town of Sistierre. That turned out to be not quite so easy as planned - the road was closed somewhere so we had to detour but there weren't enough signs to tell you just where to go. We followed some Italian cars through one road closed sign but when we got to the next one we decided we needed to go back and find another way. Luckily Dora shows pictures and we could see another road down the bottom of the valley so we headed there and found a way through. Thanks Dora.

Sistierre - this was just a name on the map along the road we planned on taking, but when we got there we found it to be the centre of the 2006 Torino winter Olympics. It was really quite amazing for us who have never really been to a big ski resort. Unfortunately everything was closed so we just bought rolls for lunch and moved on. We didn't even get any photos.

Stopped along the road for a picnic lunch where we needed our jumpers, then moved on to our b&b in Turin where it was time to pull out the shorts - 30c. Not one of my best hotel selections but there is a bus stop to the city right outside the hotel.

Lunch - this was about halfway on our days travel.

Along the road and close to Turin we came across the 'working girls' on the side of the road with their 10 inch heels and 5 inch skirts. One of them was well set up with her camping chair and beach umbrella.

Decided to head into the city for what remained of the day and just wandered the main piazza and along the covered walkways full of shops. We found ourselves in the middle of the gay pride march (very loud) and enjoyed dinner in town before heading back to the hotel. Long wait for the bus back, but at least it was still running.

Our B&B for 2 nights.
Not my best effort - it was on a busy road
and very noisy late into the night.
But there was a bus stop right outside and only 10 minutes by bus to the city.

This is actually a church that was modelled on a forum.

The main piazza as we entered Turin.
This was created with a wide open space down the centre
and along the sides were covered, arched walkways
so you could walk out of the sun and rain.
Even the places that crossed roads had covered walkways. 

Old fortification which is in what is considered the centre of Turin
- the piazza Castello.