Alps Maritimes - 2015

[AndyCook]

Yup I can see he photos now. Loving the fort photos, I am fascinated by them too. Didn't actually goto these ones so will have to go back and remedy that!

There is a great one after strada assetia, at east end and on a detour off main roadbook route, which has long underground tunnels into a magazine which we explored with AndrewT

You will have to drive the val disere route which goes up north to through Italy on old salt road etc, I can provide route info it's all on wikiloc. More forts there

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[clivehorridge]

Really nice photos Reinhard, as usual, thanks for all the effort of posting, I would guess that took a few hours.

The old villages you passed through are fantastic, love those narrow stepped pathways between the houses. And that's one hell of a serpentine track!

 

[GerryTLC]

Too wonderful places buddy, thank you for sharing! Awesome country side and scenery.

 

[SpinDrift]

Thanks all.

The following morning we headed back into the hills, but had very heavy rain for most of the morning

.







We came across a bunker with the Free French symbol carved in a rock nearby





I went to explore. Tbh I was expecting the structure to be some kind of gun post but instead it turned out to be the entrance to a tunnel system











Back on the surface it was still raining but we had to press on. The tarmac road we were on came to an end and we drove onto a dirt track in an amazing ladscape







We would have liked to get out and explore, but it was really chucking it!

Back on tarmac we passed this old military strucuture



It looks like one of those old forts you see out in the desert. May be the legion were here as well!

Still raining ...

 

[AndyCook]

Bummer about the weather, I missed those that tunnel system though. Hope you don't mind thread jack,, but here are some pics taken in same place in June. Motivated to return there now and spend more time on foot and bike

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[SpinDrift]

The afternoon brought clear weather and antoher great track through a forest







The forest opened up to a beautiful valley



with am equally beautiful lake



That evening we camped in a high meadow just off a very slippery track



The following morning we spotted deer in the hills



I wanted to air down the tyres because of the slippery track. In the process I noticed a nail in one of the tyre. Rather than risk it becoming a puncture, I swapped it for the spare



Crossing another ski slope we descended oonto the valley and back on to tarmac. We were soon back on the dirt track that leads to the valley on the south side of Col du Parpaillon ... another spectacular valley ...





We saw more marmotes



the track up to the col is narrow, stoney and has a few interesting switch backs to go with the great views



The entrance to Tunnel Parpaillon is at the top of the track.



This French girl and her dog wanted to walk through the tunnel using the torch on her mobile phone ... she quickly changed her mind. The inside of the tunnel is cold and damp, the ground is uneven with flooded potholes (someone even said that tunnel floods in heavy rain - apparently it has a dip in the middle, which is why you cant see the light at the end of the .... Part of the tunnel wall is brick, but part of it is crudely cut rock. Anyway we give the girl and her dog a lift to the other side.





The entrances of the tunnel still have the steel snow doors which travellers have adorned with stickers ... I didnt have any club sticker - we should make some.



The views on the otherside were equally spectacular

 

[SpinDrift]

Bummer about the weather, I missed those that tunnel system though. Hope you don't mind thread jack,, but here are some pics taken in same place in June. Motivated to return there now and spend more time on foot and bike

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Yes, thats the place. There is a lot to explore. You need to take it slow and spend time in partcular areas - the problem for us usually is the time and the amount of ground we want to cover. Would be great to live and work in Nice with the Alps so close.

The landscape really changes when the sun comes out.

 

[clivehorridge]

More great photos Reinhard, many thanks!

I liked the warning triangle when you were changing the wheel!

Second the club sticker BTW, I wonder if Cris is listening...

 

[SteveJo]

What a stunning looking trip thank you for sharing.

 

[SpinDrift]

We descended into the valley and headed to Ebrun for fuel and to stock up on some French goodies



and were soon off the tarmac again







We could see a glacier in the distance







That night we stayed in a campsite in Guilliestre. Spaghetti Marinara tonight!



In the morning we went to explore the village







Spotted this in town ...



Havent posted a pic of mine for a while



The back sits a little low. The rear springs are heavy duty, but I think they might need a little assistance when loaded

More great views ...











Spotted another cruiser



We camped in a meadow surrounded by forest



Mushroom cleaning - we still have some in the freezer!



Lamb (with mushrooms) tonight

 

[StarCruiser]

Hi Reinhard, just found this and saw your post 10 about the thunderstorm.

If caught in a storm, your best place is inside the vehicle. The Lightning has travelled through the air for half a mile so it's not going to have a problem leaping from any part of a car to ground. I certainly wouldn't be on the roof unless in a metal tent.

The key is that most of the roof of your vehicle is connected well enough to the sides and the base. Any lightning strike connects with the roof, conducts round the metalwork, breaking through any mastic that is present in joints or seams. It continues through the metalwork and exits at a point close to the ground (or can travel in the opposite direction). The metalwork presents what is termed a 'Faraday Cage' and as long as you are inside it you cannot receive a shock. Being a diesel you will have little to no chance of fire due to fuel. However, if ever a vehicle is struck, you need to check that nothing has been set on fire, tyres are the most likely if the lightning has jumped from the rim to the ground. An electrical arc such as lightning exhibits temperatures three times as hot as the surface of the sun for fractions of a second and carries currents of many thousands of Amps. This could cause areas of metalwork on the car to become warm or even hot due to current flow. Secondary effects may include wipers or other devices operating and damage could possibly occur to electronic items, though this may be unlikely. The truck would also experience localised paint damage at entry and exit points.

If I'm at home, and lightning gets really close, I head for my car…it's THE safest place. You don't need to avoid touching the metalwork BTW, you wouldn't feel a shock but could feel any heat generated.

If caught in the open crouch down with your ankles and knees together, hands over your head and elbows on your knees. Sometimes a 'leader stroke' comes up from the ground or seeks out a path and you can feel your hair stand on end. This is the time for everyone nearby to drop to the crouched position immediately as a strike will usually occur very close within seconds.

Hope this helps.
Richard

 

[AndyCook]

More great photos, and good to see the weather cleared up.
That lake south of Jausiers, which you photographed, and wild camping near it is a wonderful spot isn't it. Although a shepherd got annoyed with us initially for camping on a meadow up the valley from the lake, but then was fine when we said for one night only,

The tunnel and trails and views from it look superb, hope it is a case of 3rd time lucky for us, the track has been closed due to landslides or snow when we have tried in June/July in past

Mushrooms must have been tasty too


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[Chris]

Super trip Reinhard. Just the sort of cultural stuff I a like.

 

[Lorin]

Such a stunning area. Great pics Reinhard

 

[Lund]

Absolutely gorgeous area, we spent 3 weeks around in the same area in '11.
looks like we had better weather though

 

[SpinDrift]

Thanks Richard. I know the inside of the car should be safe, and figured the roof tent was not the place to be. It was somewhat unnerving being at altitude and with a low cloud base.

Hi Reinhard, just found this and saw your post 10 about the thunderstorm.

If caught in a storm, your best place is inside the vehicle. The Lightning has travelled through the air for half a mile so it's not going to have a problem leaping from any part of a car to ground. I certainly wouldn't be on the roof unless in a metal tent.

The key is that most of the roof of your vehicle is connected well enough to the sides and the base. Any lightning strike connects with the roof, conducts round the metalwork, breaking through any mastic that is present in joints or seams. It continues through the metalwork and exits at a point close to the ground (or can travel in the opposite direction). The metalwork presents what is termed a 'Faraday Cage' and as long as you are inside it you cannot receive a shock. Being a diesel you will have little to no chance of fire due to fuel. However, if ever a vehicle is struck, you need to check that nothing has been set on fire, tyres are the most likely if the lightning has jumped from the rim to the ground. An electrical arc such as lightning exhibits temperatures three times as hot as the surface of the sun for fractions of a second and carries currents of many thousands of Amps. This could cause areas of metalwork on the car to become warm or even hot due to current flow. Secondary effects may include wipers or other devices operating and damage could possibly occur to electronic items, though this may be unlikely. The truck would also experience localised paint damage at entry and exit points.

If I'm at home, and lightning gets really close, I head for my car…it's THE safest place. You don't need to avoid touching the metalwork BTW, you wouldn't feel a shock but could feel any heat generated.

If caught in the open crouch down with your ankles and knees together, hands over your head and elbows on your knees. Sometimes a 'leader stroke' comes up from the ground or seeks out a path and you can feel your hair stand on end. This is the time for everyone nearby to drop to the crouched position immediately as a strike will usually occur very close within seconds.

Hope this helps.
Richard

 

[SpinDrift]

Thanks for the comments everyone. The Alps are a truely outstanding destination. I had reservations about the trip - the destination and the short duration, but it turned out to be brilliant. Will definitately go again.

 

[SpinDrift]

The following morning we continued along the trail





passing an ancient artifact



before reaching tarmac. We continued north stopping in town of Briancon.











We spotted a couple oldies in town





We slipped across the border into Italy, heading out on the tracks. Although it was Sunday and there were people around, no one seemed bothered by us and the other 4x4's in the area









a detour took us up into a high valley with a waterfall

 

[SpinDrift]

We passed through the Olympic village of Sestriere



setting up camp on at the head of the next and final track



The track took us through the Parco Naturale del Gran Bosco di Salbertrand, with amazing views and was one of the best of the whole trip















Memorial to two resistance fighters











Testa del Assietta











The descent to the town of Susa had more than 30 switch backs through forest

 

[SpinDrift]

From Susa we continued north re-entering France through the 8 mile long Frejus Tunnel in Bardonecchia and heading towards Alsace for some wine. We took a short cut through Switzerland, avoid the circular route through France

I am sure I've seen this car in the past, or was it in the future .....



In Alsace we visted Colmar










and Turckheim







Alsace is very picturesque and has good wines.

We left Turckheim for Calais at 7.00am the next morning, catching the 6pm ferry to Dover and finally arriving home at 2.00 am - a very long day!

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip to the Alps. The area we visited is like (it probably is ) a big national park. The scenery is beautiful and the tracks, whilst not particularly technical, were fun and took us to great places. Definitely worth a trip. In Arnie's word's 'I'll be back' - definitely.