Winter leathers on for a quick ride around Marseille in a moment of wan winter sunshine after the drizzle. Slippery cobbles around the Vieux Port but fun on the Corniche Kennedy with even a bit of respect from the scooter riders. I usually avoid Marseille Vieux Port on a bike because of the congestion but I wanted to check out the Marché de Noël (Christmas Market).

Ninety-one happy bikers for GBMCC London Christmas lunch at the Riverside restaurant, on the bank of the Thames at Vauxhall. Thank you Stephen for organising this event, which goes from strength to strength, as does GBMCC, now in its fortieth year.
Then many of us went on the nearby Royal Vauxhall Tavern for traditional stage entertainment: Charlie Hides’ TransAtlanticDame show.

High res version available to club members, see the GBMCC website

• AMA Marseille Christmas lunch 2017
• GBMCC London Christmas lunch 2016

Last day riding for this trip. Petit déjeuner at home with Denis and Michel in St. Tropez then riding up to the cork tree forest that clothes the Massif des Maures. Stopping for coffee in the little village of Le Plan de la Tour. Previously a village of vineyard and forest workers, now you don’t have much choice if you have only one million Euros to buy your holiday house. Nonetheless, the new owners have mostly made their renovations sympathetic to the local styles.

Read more: Le Plan de la Tour

Ride in the sunshine along the French Riviera: Hyères, Borme les Mimoses and meeting with Denis and Michel for a salad lunch on the front at Le Lavandou.
Continuing the road movie with a photo stop at Snack Popeye on Plage Gigaro at the village of La Croix Valmer. These little beaches are pretty much deserted at this time of the year and the storms haven't yet wreacked damage. Some more roads, hills, cliffs and plenty of curves then a stop for coffee and tea portside at Les Marines de Cogolin, just across the channel from Port Grimaud.

Read more: St. Tropez sunset