Featured France And Monte-carlo.

Day 1
Well off I trundled down to catch the train to France, this time unlike last time, I had great weather, rather than last year's monsoon..
Well check in came and went, and I had a train compartment all to myself.
Well off into France, and the glorious back roads, which seem to be devoid of traffic. Going through some really lovely villages, In Cambrai came across this memorial to the Canadian troops who fought here.

It was a really nice sunny day, and I was enjoying the great French roads too.

I eventually got to my hotel at about 17.30. I always think that that's about the right time to stop, so you can have a walk around these places, and grab a bite to eat somewhere.
Day 2.
Well after a nice start to the day, the rain came, and as is the normal, it chucked it down. I wasn't too bothered as I knew that it was going to clear up, and in the afternoon it did just that, and like yesterday, I could really start to enjoy the roads again in sunshine. Not many pictures today, as the main goal for me is to get to the Gorges Du Verdon.
Day 3
Well today I reached the hotel in Puget-Théniers. This place is beautiful, well kept houses and the village had bags of character too. It had rained again this afternoon, so I was happy to get my rain gear off and dry it out.
That evening I had a wonderful meal with other guests and the two owners who sometimes cook for the guests, if enough of them want to chip in for a meal. The other guest were from Berlin, and I had a great 2.5 hrs of speaking to them in German, I can get by JUST, in German, but as they all spoke perfect English, they were helping me along the way. All in all a bloody great evening.
Day 4
Well today's the day for the reason to come to this part of France. The Gorges Du Verdon. This is France's answer to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Believe me this place doesn't disappoint too. if you ever get a chance to visit this area, don't turn it down, it will be your loss. The roads and the scenery are just jaw dropping to say the least, and all with perfect blue sky's and sun to boot, it makes for a fantastic day's ride.

 

Day 5
Well today it's off to that well known play ground Monte-Carlo. I'd been there before, in 1989 with the misses, she didn't fancy coming on this trip, so I thought I'll give it a go, and see how much it's changed over the years.
Well getting in to the place was a pain, I went via the main roads, and boy do they like taking money off you to get into Monte-Carlo, in the form of road tolls, I'd found out later on my way out, that they loved that idea so much, that they'd charge you to get out of the place too. Now I don't have the slightest interest in car racing, so I've no idea if I got there before or after the Monaco Gp, but there was a lot of activity going on. I didn't buy a drink, as they wont accept anything less than America express, and at the prices they want for a drink, I think dehydration would be an option to a heart attack, when they give you the bill. The weather was a bit overcast today, and it was very warm too. I had a good long walk around the place. Lots of new buildings going up everywhere too.

 

Day 6
Well enough of Monte-Carlo. I much prefer to ride around the mountains that stay in an overpriced rich person town.
So back out today riding around the Gorges Du Verdon.
Here's Napoleon and Josephine. They've been there for a while.

 

Day 7
Well today I made my way north to Annecy, now if you've never been there, it's a place that should be on your bucket list. It is such a beautiful place that I went there two days on the trot to take some more pictures.

 

Prudence is French for, this road is made for motorbikes, with miles of perfect tarmac and lots and lots of bends for you to enjoy, shame that the cars, and bloody camper vans get in your way. Have fun.
Well that's a true translation, honestly, just Google it.
And last but no least

I did 2850 miles. Next stop Germany in a week and a bits time.

 

Thanks for that. Enjoyed it. We’re going to France in August on the bikes and in September in the motorhome. Son lives in Chamonix so we’re there regularly. Still in awe of the scenery after all these years.

 

Have a great trip.

 

Great trip Bikerman. Also had a great ride from Newcastle to Monte Carlo in the 70's with my wife on my T160 Trident. Camped at Grasse and had a day trip to Monte Carlo.

 

I was in Monaco in 1989 as well, on a GPz900r at the time





*Just realised, I think that's Cannes, but I was in Monaco as well that day!

 

@Bikerman: Many thanks to you for sharing your great pictures and impressions with us. You have refreshed my memories of 2022 when my wife and I rode there. It was great.

 

Stunning once again loved the story and the scenery. @jioe

 

Great trip. I rode the Gorges du Verdon years ago and thought it was stunning.

 

Hi @Bikerman thanks for sharing your trip. Really enjoyed the pics and memories for me in many of the places you visited.

 

You're most welcome. Germany a week Thursday, so hopefully more nice pictures coming this way.

 

Whereabouts in Germany are you planning to go?

 

Mainly the Black Forest area, and the Titsee area, as well as some biker cafes that Markus recommended.

 

Great area for riding - Schwarzwald-Hochstraße, B 500 and the Uhrenstraße all recommended!

 

Thanks for sharing the great info, stories, and photos from your trip, @Bikerman! I really enjoyed your entire thread....brilliant. I'll have to look up some of the places you reported on, especially Gorges Du Verdon and Annecy. Gorges Du Verdon looks absolutely breathtaking and Annecy reminds me a bit of Venice. The only places I've been in Europe are Spain (and only Barcelona) and Italy (Milan, Venice, & Rome). Posts like yours and others here make me think Steve and I need to get out of America and over to Europe for some trips there.

Looking forward to hearing all about your upcoming tour in Germany, too.

 

Europe does have some stunning places to ride, who knows you might one day take that flight. I think you'll have lots of fantastic places to see, and with input from people on this forum, it could be a very memorable trip.

 

I think you're right about all that, @Bikerman! The keys would be all those "basic" questions: Where? When? How? Even the Who? might be up in the air if we have riding buddies who'd like to join us. The Why? question goes without saying--new adventures!