Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)
Snowball juggling
Sunny ride up the whole length of the valley of the Durance to Briançon (1326 m.). Checked in at a historic hotel in the fortified old town, then on up the road to the Col du Lautaret (2057 m.). Rocks white with snow and ice but tarmac black and dry. Special views around as approaching the snow line and the glaciers. Snowballs at the col, 2057 m. The side road on up to the Col du Galibier (2642 m.) was snowbound.
Tootling back down, there was strong smell of sulphurous gasses at Le Monètier-les-Bains, the devil is never far away! Onwards down to Briançon, the alpine city fortified by Sébastien Le Prestre, the Marquis of Vauban, during the reign of Louis XIV.
A dinner in the hotel restaurant of pan fried trout with a genépi sauce. Lastly, MotoGP from the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. A memorable day.
Belvédère (1350 m.) de Mt. Pelvoux (3946 m.)
Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)
Briançon
Truite au sauce genépi
Chorges (782 m.)