Some pictures of a round trip in September.
For time and tire thread reasons we hauled the bikes to some starting point at a friends house on the Cote d' Azure near Menton/France and rode from there.
That saved uns 2x 1000 km and left 5 full riding days. As always it is not only about riding, but camping as well - especially camping in the rough.



Day one was just an afternoon trip, for filling up, packing, shopping and eating out. We did a light ride to some mountain villages:







A local farmers car hauling sheep - the little Citroen C15 is very popular there and perfect for small winding roads and narrow village streets:





This is what the area is like - the opposite of any highway:



After that 190 km warm-up on Sunday our camping trip began Monday morning.

Breakfast at a roadside bakery and Cafe:



Uwe is on his trusty Enfield India 350, which is the least capable bike for the job, but our toughest rider on it.
Phil rides his Honda XR600 (US Import), and the blue bike is my Austrian downsized Version of a Tenere 1VJ, sporting 500 cc only.

We cross the border to Italy and head North to the start of tzhe Ligurian Border Ridge Road, a famous old military road (WW II).



We always try to get local beer. Success!



For non-tarmac navigation I have a Pocket PC system running "Pathaway", which can display scanned and calibrated paper maps. This is the start of that military road:



September is nice because it is not so hot any more - but there can be fog and rain really:



We hit a narrow bit of road which you can not do on a car - a landslide had destroyed the better part of the piste there. That XTZ 660 blocked our way, somebody had left it in the middle of the track. Was quite a job to move it as that honk left it locked. We met him later, after falling over the engine did not start and he hiked to get help, probably a towing service.



Uwe, having passed the service truck of the next alpine shelter - they turned around there and did the next 2 km in reverse to get that 660.



And this is Phil behind him:



The road is about 2000 meters above sea level, and covers a distance of 60 km roughly:



I only found a proper map on that German web page: http://alpenrouten.de/Ligurische-Grenzk ... ack59.html

We found a nice overnight spot, just off sight, near an old military post, where we made good use of the firewood we collected earlier along the road. We camped clearly above the trree line.







More to come ...

Andy

Fantastic report, I love the area above Menton but I did not know you could find single track roads through the mountains.

Tuesday

Another sunny day coming up. Every guy has his own mini tent and picked his own spot to sleep, which makes it easier to find an even spot for every mattress:



We put our kettle on the petrol stove, have coffee and pack our stuff.
On we go, over the Col de la Boaire towards the central fort, above Tende:





Fort Central, right between France and Italy:







On our way over Baisse de Peyrefique and Baisse d’Ourne Phil loses his rear rack, the light tubes just snapped off. We mend that with some luggage straps.





Going down to Tende for shopping petrol and food. And to have a coffee:



And some maintenance going on as well there:





Then we ride up to the fort again, 48 hairpin bends to go. The road is blocked for cars, but anything with two wheels can get through:



We follow the gravel road north-east in direction of Val Mala where we find a nice spot to camp, a bit nearer to the valley as yesterday we camped above 2100 m and it was COLD.
So it is only 1720 m today, there is some forest around so campfire is easy enough, and we knock up some pasta and sauce, we even find mushroom to roast over the embers of our campfire.
Having a gorgious view down on the lights of Turin we are happy enough to be here tonight, with a bottle of Italien Barbera red wine and all.



Wednesday

Well it is a bit windy and cold, so an extra tea and coffee is imperative, which is a quick job on the petrol stove - we have a Bialetti Coffee Maker with us.
Only then we are ready to break tents and have breakfast while packing.







Not so sunny today, clouds and fog until noon.



We ride some remote roads down to the valley, have lunch, fill up petrol and provisions.



After waiting out some rain in a shop we ascend again, to nearly 2500 m (Colle dei Morti) and on our way to Maira-Stura panoramic road. It is getting dark, and foggy - quite hard to find a good spot to camp then. We are happy enough to check in at an alpine hut for the night. Being the only guests we have free choice of beds, and can buy us some drinks there as well. A good place to sort things out, dry clothes, even do some laundry and have a steaming hot shower.



That is a highly recommended place, named Rifugio Carbonetto (1874 m) > http://www.rifugiocarbonetto.it/english/the-refuge

More to come

Sunny again the next day:



Go down to the valley, shopping, again:



Back along the mountain tops, gravel road to Colle della Bandia (2408), Colle Margherina (2408) to Colle Cologna and Colle Salsas Blanchas.







Rifugio della Gardetta, back to tarmac, passing Preit village and filling up in Canosio



Find church “Madonna delle Grazie“ (2000m) and ride up to Forte Carmagnola (2804m).





Nearly lost my bashplate there:



There - I fixed it!



Camping, at the end of the day:







Col Agnello:



Yes we rode that bit, too:



From Guillestre to Risoul. A deserted winter paradise ... kind of hard to find the right piste to Col de Valbelle ...



Riding up to Col de Parpaillon:



Doing the 500 m tunnel:



Navigation says: target accomplished



BBQ



Our bivouac



Col de la Bonette



Last lunch:



Back to our trailer and drive home.

That's the track



Andy

Nice report Andy, gotta love them cable ties

Mezo.

Nice -liked the Enfield joining the trip

Wooaoo!!!

You are giving me dirty plans for next year...

Fantastico!

In September I rode Turin to Nice with my wife over some of the tracks you did. Only I was on a push bike. I fell off in the 1st 10km after hitting a bollard...but gritted teeth and carried on for the 700 odd km. Got home and found out I had broken the neck of my femur! Since then my 1VJ has been increasingly keeping me company.

Anyway it's a fantastic area. I will go back on my 1VJ maybe next summer. Especially for the Asietta above Sestriere. It's almost do-able on a day from my house.

Hi Dan,
we were close to your house a few weeks ago then ...

http://www.motorang.com/motorrad/2016_piemont.htm (click and load 30 MB of pictures ...)

Andy

Hejj Man.

Like me yours lifeway:)
If you have time ,at 2017 summertime mut to be my special guest .
At Makó,Hungary.

Greetings.
Steve.