French/Swiss/Italian Alps '18 (too many pics)

[DarrenSV650S]

I booked a hotel on the French side of Geneva for 4 days, 5 nights. I allowed 2 days to get there by motorway. It coincided with a very thorough downpour in England and Calais with some night time lightning thrown in for extra excitement. It's amazing how well my boots hold water

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10 mins after I checked in to my hotel near Calais the rain stopped completely...

Another day of mindless motorway mile munching got me to my hotel in Geneva


Day 1 I decided to head to the Klausen Pass in Switzerland. The route there turned out to be just as amazing as the pass itself. And the weather was on my side

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Got a bit of a surprise when I appeared on a runway :smt102
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Looking over the edge
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You can just about see a biker on the road below
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Biker couple enjoying the views
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Cow bells could be heard everywhere
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Approaching the pass...
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5 star cow sheds with a great view
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Waterfall in the corner
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Cable to the sky!
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On the way back
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[DarrenSV650S]

Day 2

Breakfast
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Geneva harbour. The apprentice plumber must have royally screwed up
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I went to my bike's homeland through the Mont Blanc Tunnel which is hot, smelly and goes on forever! But it does make my bike sound biblical

On the other side:
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Tea
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Day 3 I rested because my feet, thighs, ar5e, balls, arms, hands, neck and even my ears were all aching from 4 days constant riding. Plus it was rainy

[DarrenSV650S]

Day 4 I didn't have any route planned and just looked on google terrain for hilly twisty areas, while also avoiding the rain clouds. It turned out to be a good plan. I found great roads with views to match. I just had to take it a bit slower because the roads were a bit wet from the morning showers

I first went up the hairpin hills just south of Geneva, which revealed a pretty epic view point

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More hilltop cows blessed with amazing views!
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Looking down on Geneva
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He still hadn't fixed that leak
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Down the other side
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Continuing to explore east
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Sunbathing cow
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The guy on the left is waving at me :)
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And that's it! The next 2 days were blasting back on the motorways wishing I had more time. I could spend months and month exploring and never get bored :D

[garynortheast]

Absolutely stunning set of pictures Darren. Looks like it was an epic trip!

[Red ones]

Don't see the attraction myself. Looks just like Hertfordshire. [emoji16]

[maviczap]

I'd rather see pictures of motorways

[admin]

Don't see the attraction myself. Looks just like Hertfordshire. [emoji16]Lol. Fab photos Darren. Very envious.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[daktulos]

Amazing views, although the lack of snow in the ski resort (which was that by the way) was a bit disturbing ...

[DarrenSV650S]

Amazing views, although the lack of snow in the ski resort (which was that by the way) was a bit disturbing ...

Avoriaz :thumleft:

[chris8886]

Don't see the attraction myself. Looks just like Hertfordshire. [emoji16]

:thumleft: don't I know it....


looked to me like you took too many pictures and didn't spend enough time riding.....! ;)

[Bibio]

looks like you had a great time Daz. stunning pics. very envious as i know i cant go unless i win the lottery.

[DarrenSV650S]

:thumleft: don't I know it....


looked to me like you took too many pictures and didn't spend enough time riding.....! ;)

I was fighting myself the whole time! "I have to go back and get that picture!"

Honestly I could have taken a lot more. Every corner I went round I just wanted to stop and take in the view

[peterco]

Really great pics Darren.

[Bibio]

Daz, can you put up a more detailed version in the euro tour section with routes and stuff?

[DarrenSV650S]

I don't have exact routes but I have location data for each picture. Why do you ask?

[Bibio]

just curious. most people post pics of fantastic roads but almost never ever tell other people where they are. would be nice to know :-)

[DarrenSV650S]

Hmm I'll put that on my to do list. It would take a while. Unless there is a way to get my routes from Google tracking

[DarrenSV650S]

Boom. Google tracking has its uses

Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 4
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[shiftin_gear98]

Thanks for the pics, looks well **** you must have had a horrible time.




Looks absolutely stunning.

[BanannaMan]

Wow awesome pics from an awesome trip.
No mountains in the world can match the beauty of the Alps.

[Luckypants]

Stunning photos Darren. Love that area. I've never stayed in one place and explored the area though, at least not on the bike. That looks a great idea and one to think about for the future. Less luggage laden miles. :thumright:

Tip for next time you go. Get off the motorway at Dole, head to Poligny and stay at the Hotel de Paris(if you need somewhere to stay). Ride over the Jura mountains on the N5 to Nyons, ride around the lake to Geneva. Does away with the second day of motorway bashing.

[DarrenSV650S]

Yeah it is nice being luggage free. I think if I went again I'd get a place further in to the alps away from big cities like Geneva.

Cool I'll have a look at that route. Cheers

[Luckypants]

We love to stay around Lake Annecy, 40 minute down the road from Geneva but not really more into the Alps. I also like Briancon, Bourg d'Oisons and Bourg St. Maurice as Alpine towns, but I do tend to tour around when over there rather than have a base.

[Geodude]

Very jealous indeed D'man :)