Skills practice on my CBR600RR on roads up near the Circuit Paul Ricard (Circuit du Castellet). Not a fuel economy run: there are some interesting cambers and curves to try to ride intelligently. My photo is a roundabout painted in the same colours as the track.

Riding the “Little Galibier”, one of the minor road passes of the Massif de la Sainte-Baume. Its route to the col de Pas de la Couelle (525 m.) is twisting and tortuous as it climbs through the pine forests of Mt. Regagnas (715 m.). The route links the small towns of St. Zacherie and Trets and passes a memorial to infantry of the Légion Étrangère.
The clear roads are a sort of compensation for the disappointing weather. Go play!

More photos: “The little Galibier”, le col de Pas de la Couelle (525 m.)

A6 between Shap and Kendal, junction with Breasthigh Road, byway 355003 showing traffic prohibtion sign

Breasthigh Road, Cumbria is a 3km byway open to all traffic and is an attractive ride. It links Borrowdale with Bretherdale and is a link in the TET (Trans Euro Trail). There are several other shorter byways close by so it looks possible to make a tour. This is Borrowdale near Shap on the A6 trunk road, formerly in Westmorland and distinct from Borrowdale near Derwent Water in former Cumberland.

I wanted to check out the actual situation on the ground as Breasthigh Road is noted as closed to motor vehicles for restoration works on the website of the national park authority. The project plan shows works to have started in May 2022 but no update is shown since tree planting in Autumn 2022. Meanwhile the definitive map for Cumbria shows Breasthigh Road, byway 355003 and its connections as open.

More photos: Breasthigh Road recce - TET & Lake District National Park

Three Shire Stone, Wrynose Pass (25%, 393 m.)

Exploring Dunnerdale via Wrynose Pass (25%, 393 m.). Dunnerdale upper valley is big and bleak, and today almost in the clouds, this is the west flank of The Old Man of Coniston (803 m.). There is so much moss and lichen in woods in the valley of the River Duddon below Froth Pot (falls) as to be almost cloud forest. The high slopes, previously forested with pines, are being replanted with deciduous trees but meanwhile there are views which have not been seen for many years.

More photos: Dunnerdale - Lake District National Park